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PETWORTH 



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PETWORTH: 



A SKETCH OF ITS 



with notices of oljects of archceological interest in its vicinity, 



BY 



THE REV. F. H. ARNOLD, M. A 

INCUMBENT OF APPLEDRA1M. 



Ille terrarum mihi prseter omnes 
Angulus ridet.— Hor* 




Esjperance. 



PETWORTH: 

PBINTED AND PUBLISHED BY A. J. BRYANT. 
1864. 



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' OXi 
PETWORTH: 

FEINTED AND PUBLISHED BY A. J. BBTANT. 



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TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE 

GEOEGE 
BARON LECONFIELD, 

LORD OF THE HONOR AND MANOR OF 

PETWORTH, 

THIS WORK IS BY HIS LORDSHIP'S PERMISSION 
MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED. 



€mimh. 





PAGE, 


Early notices of Petworth in rolls, archives, &c. 


...... 8 


Petworth at the Conquest 


10 


Atrocities of Eobert de Belesme 


11 


Queen Adeliza and Joceline de Louvaine 


13 


House of Perci 


15 


Lords of Petworth 


16 


Vicissitudes of its mediae val owners 


19 


Fact and Fiction about Hotspur , 


21 


Earls of Northumberland 


28 


The Cecil Oak 


35 


Charles, "the proud,' ' D uke of Somerset 


36 


Earls of Egremont 


38 


Wyndham Genealogy 


39 


Petworth Park 


41 


Natindon's Flight 


43 


Visit of Edward I. to Petworth 


44 


Visit of Edward II 


45 


Progress of Edward VI 


46 


Visit of the Allied Sovereigns 


...... 48 


Visit of Queen Victoria 


49 


The Castle at Petworth 


49 


Old Petworth House 


51 


Petworth House 


52 


Pictures 


54 


Chaucer MS. 


58 


Petworth Church 


59 


Chapel of Thomas a Becket 


60 



Puritan Proceedings 63 

CheynelTs Symbolum 64 

Extracts from the Register 65 

Certificates for the King's Touch 66 

Eectors of Petworth 67 

History of the Town ...... 72 

Changes at the Reformation 73 

Rotherbridge 75 

Journey to Petworth of Charles King of Spain 76 

Petworth vindicated from an aspersion ...... 77 

Tradesmen's Tokens 78 

Petworth Marble 79 

IronWorks t . 81 

Hospitals, Charities, and Schools 82 

Old Houses 87 

Inn Signs , 89 

Sports of the last Century ,.. 90 

Town Hall 93 

Petworth Prison 94 

Howard's Report , 95 

New Gaol 97 

Modern Improvements 98 

Conclusion * » 100 



\xthtt. 



The substance of the following pages was given, 
as a Lecture, at the Town Hall, Petworth, March 
18th, 1864; on that occasion the Honorable Percy 
Wyndham, M. P. presided, and a request was made 
by the Eev. C. Holland, Eector, and the audience 
that it might be printed. With the desire thus ex- 
pressed I then complied. 

Having acted for several years as amanuensis to 
the Dean of Chichester (Dr. Hook) I have had 
access to many Archaeological Collections, Archives, 
and Eolls, and naturally feeling an interest in every 
thing relating to Petworth, my native place, while 
so engaged I made notes of numerous interesting 
circumstances connected with it. The lecture was 
based upon these notes, the other materials being 
supplied by Dallaway's Sussex, Horsfield's Sussex, 



VI 



Dugdale's Baronage, and more particularly the very 
valuable volumes published by the Sussex Archseolo- 
gical Society. Some additions have been made and 
the authorities cited. I would take this opportunity 
of thanking my friends at Petworth for accurate 
information, either furnished me directly, or by 
means of my father, — himself the chief contributor, 
as to transactions in Petworth during the last 
century. 



The Close, Chichester, 
April, 1864 



PETWORTH. 

CHAPTER I. 

Introduction — Domesday Book — Eobert de Belesme — 
Queen Adeliza. 

The iron time. — Scott, 

While Petworth is characterized by the beauty of 
its scenery, the magnificence of its Park/ the number 
of its charitable institutions, and, more recently, by 
the treasures of art collected in Petworth House, the 
history of the place itself posesses, at least, as much 
interest as usually attaches to other towns, with 
which it may be fitly compared. 

There is, too, another circumstance, which may 
commend its antiquities to every lover of English 
History, — the fact, that it has been connected, for 
many centuries, in an undisturbed line of succession, 
such as few places can lay claim to, with one of the 
most potent and distinguished families which the 

* "We were charmed with the magnificence of the Park." 

Walpole. 



8 PETWOBTH. 

baronage of England can treat of. He therefore 
who follows, in thought, the career of its earlier 
possessors, will find himself on almost ewerf battle 
field at home or abroad, with which the grandest 
historical associations of our country are inseparably 
united, as well as involved in the consideration of 
some of the most important political events which 
have affected the constitution of this realm. 

When in later and less stirring times the mem- 
bers of this family made Petworth their more perma- 
nent residence, the beneficial effects thereby entailed 
upon the town will abundantly appear. 

At what period Petworth received its distinctive 
appellation it is impossible now to determine, as is 
usual with the names of places, it occurs under vari- 
ous spellings. Its Saxon designation was Peteorde. 
In the Great Poll of the Pipe* it is written Pedewurda. 
In the Close Rollsf it occurs as Peitewurth. In the 
Itinerary of Edward I. it is mentioned as Putworth. 
In mediaeval times it is usually called Petteworth, 
and in a letter given in the Plumpton Correspon- 
dence,:}: temp* Henry VII., the Rector of Spofforth, 
then staying at Petworth House styles it Pettewoorth; 
but in another letter, dated four days after, the Earl 
of Northumberland spells it Petworth, as at the 
present time. 

* I. Bio. i. also in the same Boll "Honor de Pedewrda." 

t Bot. Claus. 6° Johann. (1204) 

J ed. Stapleton. (Camd. Soc.) p. 200. 



DOMESDAY. 9 

In investigating the antiquities of a place there 
is of course, a desire to carry our researches as far 
back as possible; but the stern demand of history 
will not suffer us to overstep the boundary of 
inexorable fact. Petworth cannot boast of any re- 
mains of the Roman occupation of our island such as 
have been discovered at Bignor, Pulborough and 
other places* near the Stane Street, parts of which 
are still existing. It lies far to the left of this great 
road which, in Roman times, extended from Chi- 
chester to London. 

The vast forest of Anderida covered this portion 
of Sussex during the Anglo Saxon period, and the 
Danes in their piratical invasions have left no certain 
vestiges of having penetrated hither. 

We know that the men of Sussex heartily rallied 
round the standard of the brave but unfortunate 
Harold to repel the Norman invader. It has been 
supposed that some of those who dwelt at Petworth 
in the succeeding century may have been able to 
make a like boast with Hubert in Ivanhoe, "My 
grandsire drew a good long bow at the battle of 
Hastings." The names of certain holders of land in 
this vicinity mentioned in Domesday, render this 
by no means improbable. 

With Domesday Book much of our local History 
begins, the photographic copies of it made by or 

* Sussex, Arch. Coll. xi. 127, 



10 PETWOKTH. 

der of Her Majesty's Government have now render- 
ed its contents easily accessible. This survey tells 
us that Peteorde was an allodial or free manor held, 
in the reign of Edward the Confessor, by a Saxon 
lady named Eddeva or Edith. Robert* then held it 
of Earl Roger. It was rated at nine hides or about 
1080 acres, of this land two hides, with two villains 
and one bordar, were held by two foreigners. At 
Peteorde there were then a church, one mill of 20s. 
and 29 acres of meadow, it had a wood capable of 
affording pannage, or provision for fattening 80 hogs, 
and it was required to supply 1620 eelsf which we 
may suppose were obtained from the Pother. Chi- 
chester was then as now the chief market for this 
district, and Petworth possessed at Chichester two 
hagaej or plots of ground with shops standing on 
them worth 16d. each. The value of the manor was 
£18. § 

Almost all the land in England changed hands at 
the Conquest || and Petworth formed no exception. 

* Kobert de Montgomeri usually called Kobert de Belesme 
from his large estates in Normandy. 

t A favorite article of consumption at that time. Speaking of 
rent in eels, Sir H. Ellis in his Introduction to Domesday, observes 
that this was either paid numerically (as here), or by stiches or 
sticks, twenty-five to the stick, "stile ex XXV anguillis" At 
Leofminstre in Herefordshire 90 sticks of eels were paid to the 
King. 

J "In Cicestre ii hagse de XYI den." Sudsexe p. 16. 

§ It afterwards declined to 10s. a proof that it felt the effects 
of the Norman invasion ; but at the time of the survey it had re- 
turned to its former worth. 

|| It is well known that William formed his expedition for the 



NORMAN CRUELTIES. 11 

The Norman baron who received it was one of the 
most distinguished men of his day, — Roger de Mont- 
gomeri was related to the Conqueror himself, he had 
served him in Normandy and he commanded the 
van of the Norman army at Hastings. His reward 
was great, he received from the King 157 manors or 
lordships 77 of which were in Sussex, and he was 
dignified by the titles of Earl of Chichester and 
Arundel to which was subsequently added that of 
Earl of Shrewsbury. 

His eldest son Robert held the manor of Petworth 
under him. We know nothing of those who dwelt 
here at that time, but on the principle that the people 
of a place are affected by its ruler, our curiosity is 
excited to learn the character of him who then 
possessed it. This is fully described by a Norman 
contemporary historian, Ordericus Vitalis. Among 
the bad Norman Barons, whose fearful atrocities are 
recorded by the Neustrian Chroniclers, Robert de 
Belesme is shockingly preeminent. "He was a man 
of subtle genius 55 says Ordericus, but "deceitful and 
wily, in person he was stout and of great strength, a 
fluent speaker and skilful mechanist but desperately 

Conquest of England on the plan of a joint stock speculation, 
the barons who accompanied him were in case of success to receive 
a reward in land or fee proportional to their services. Each re- 
garded the estates which he received as property which he had 
carved out for himself, as appears from the practical answer of 
William de Warenne in the reign of Edward I. who when question- 
ed as to his right to the land which he held, — unsheathed a rusty 
gword, the weapon which his ancestor had wielded. 



12 PETWOETH. 

cruel, his avarice and lust were insatiable. 5 '* He 
thought little of depriving men of their sight or 
mutilating them by depriving them of their hands 
and feet.f It was his ordinary practice to torment 
not only those whom he considered his enemies ; but 
if he had the opportunity, those also whom he had 
treated as his friends. His wife, a lady of high 
lineage, could not endure him, he imprisoned her, 
but she contrived to escape and avoided him ever 
afterward. A god-child, the son of one of his friends, 
was entrusted to his care, this friend offended him, 
he wreaked his vengeance on the poor helpless child, 
whose eyes he tore out, with his own blood stained 
nails, J It was his custom to impale his prisoners up- 
on sharp stakes and then witness with delight their 
throes and death struggles. § Henry of Huntingdon 
speaks of him as "a monster of iniquity — a very 
Pluto, Megaera, Cerberus, or anything you can con- 
ceive still more horrible." He was commander in 
chief to the Red King,|| himself, cruel and merciless; 
but he revolted against Henry I, in favor of Robert 
with whom he sided at Tenchebrai, where he fled 
from the battle. One of his later deeds was that of 
attacking the town of Tournai, at which place he 

* Ord. Vit. lib VIII. c. 5. t Ibid. c. 24. 

J William of Malmesbury De Gestis Begum, lib. V. also 
Henry of Huntington. Letter to Walter. Ang. Sac. 

§ Ibid. In 1008, more than 300 prisoners perished in his 
dungeons of hunger and cold. Ord. Vit. lib X. c, 7* 

|| "Princeps Militia* Regis Willielmi Rufi." 



DE BELESME'S FALL. 13 

burned the Church with 45 persons who had sought 
refuge in it. But retribution at last overtook him. 
He held out as long as possible at Arundel and 
Shrewsbury, but was taken and Henry finding him, 
after repeated trials, perfectly unmanageable, finally 
condemned him to perpetual imprisonment, and he 
passed the remainder of his days in a dungeon. 
Thus Petworth was freed from him, and we can well 
believe the statement of a local historian, who says 
"All the Earls and every person holding under him, 
or in any way concerned with him in his numerous 
lordships, greatly rejoiced at his downfall, as they 
were certain they could not fall into worse hands." 

The manor of Petworth was forfeited to the 
Crown by this baron's rebellion. 

It next passed into queenly hands, King Henry 
I. bequeathed it to his second queen Adeliza or 
Alice la Belle, daughter of Godfrey surnamed Bar- 
batus or the Bearded. She married again, her next 
husband was William de Albini,* who received the 
Earldom of Arundel; but the Honor and Manor of 
Petworth was conveyed by gift from the Queen to 



* This William requires a passing notice. He was called 
William with the strong hand, and was reputed the handsomest 
man of his time in England, if not in all Europe. History informs 
us that he was admired by the Qneens of both France and Eng- 
land, that the former lady fell in love with him, and invited him 
to a tournament in which he exeelled all his competitors; but that 
William remained constant to the English Queen, to whom he had 
pledged his troth, and on his return to England espoused her. 



14 PETWORTH. 

her brother Joceline de Louvaine (1140)* to be 
held of the Earls of Arundel by knight's service as 
being Castellan of Arundel Castle^f which in case of 
siege he was bound to defend for forty days. 

We have no evidence that Joceline resembled 
most of the CastellansJ of his time and as the brother 
of the gentle and amiable Adeliza we may charitably 
hope the contrary ; but while considering the history 
of Petworth in connection with royalty and as be- 
longing to the descendants of Charlemagne,§ we are 
painfully reminded by a contemporary writer, that 
this was a period of almost unprecedented suffering, 
"the whole aspect of the country presented a scene 
of calamity and sorrow, misery and oppression."|| 
Foreign mercenaries desolated large districts, and 

* This Charter confirmed by Henry I. when only Duke of 
Normandy (1152) is still in the possession of the Duke of North- 
umberland. "Henricus Dux Norman, et Aquit. Comes Andegav 
&c. confirms" J ocelino fratri regine Adelicie honorem de Pette- 
worth &c. 

f Here Queen Adeliza received the Empress Maud on her 
landing and hospitably entertained her. G-esta Stephani. 

% Fiction would not venture beyond such facts as these — 
"they filled them (the castles) with devils and evil men, then they 
took those whom they suspected to have goods, by night and by 
day, seizing both men and women and they put them in prison for 
their gold and silver and tortured them with pain3 unspeakable. 
They hung some up by their feet and smoked them with foul 
smoke, some by their thumbs or by the head and they hung burn- 
ing things to their feet. They put a knotted string about their 
heads and twisted it till it went into the brain. They put them 
into dungeons, wherein were adders and snakes and toads and thus 
wore them out." Sax. Chron. ad ann. 1137. 

§ Adeliza and Joceline were descended lineally from the 
ancient Dukes of Brabant and Lower Lorraine and from the 
Kings of France sprung from the Emperor Charlemagne. 

|| GestaSteph. 



HOUSE OF PEECI. 15 

when the miserable inhabitants had no more to give, 
then plundered they and burnt all the towns, so that 
well mightest thou walk a whole day's journey nor 
ever shouldest thou find a man seated in a town or 
its lands tilled, — wretched men starved with hunger, 
some lived on alms who had been rich before, — never 
was there more misery.* 

CHAPTER II. 

Lords of Petworth — Hotspur — Earls of Northumberland- 
Later Owners of the Honor and Manor. 

Audire magnos jam videor duces. — Hor. 

Speaking of the noble family of Perci, in his 
Worthies of England, Fuller observes that "for birth 
and valour it is equal to any subjects in Christen- 
dome." Joceline de Louvaine took the name of 
Perci, on his marriage with Agnes daughter of 
William de Perci, third in descent from the power- 
ful Baron of that name, who came to this country 
with the Conqueror. The Chroniclers agree in stating 
that this lady would consent to marry Joceline only 
upon condition that he should adopt it. Prom him 
were descended the lords of Petworth of this name, 
conspicuous in mediaeval history. These nobles of the 
Perci family were Barons of Petworth until 1377. t 

* Sax. Chron. 

t In 1377, Henry de Perci, Lord of Petworth, was created 
Earl of Northumberland. He was the father of Hotspur and as 
Mr. Blaauw (Baron's War) remarks, "by females the direct ances- 
tor of the late Earl of Egremont." 



16 PETWORTH. 

To Joceline* succeeded his son Henry de Perci 
who married Isabel, only daughter of Adam de 
Brus/f* Lord of Skelton; and received from his 
father-in-law the manor which formed her dower to 
be held by a singular but very easy tenure — "the 
lord being bound, every Christmas day, to lead the 
lady of Skelton castle from her chamber to mass and 
back, and after dining with her to depart." His 
brother Richard was one of the chief of the great 
barons who secured Magna Carta, and as one of the 
twenty five champions of English liberty appointed 
to enforce its observance, will be regarded as having 



* "With the view of clearly distinguishing between the first 
house of Perci and the second, the reader is asked to excuse an ac- 
count of the former in the shape of a note. The house of Perci 
derived its descent from Mainfred, a Danish chieftain who made 
irruptions into Normandy before the sera of E olio's expedition 
thither, two centuries previous to the Conquest. (Dugdale.) 
Mainfred' s descendant William de Perci, who bore the name of 
"alsgernon," the same as "aux moustaches" or the whiskered, from 
the largeness of these facial appendages in which he delighted, 
came to England with Duke William and was much beloved by 
the Conqueror. He obtained 16| knight's fees of the Honor of 
Arundel (about 10,200 acres) and other large grants of land. 
With the ardent but mistaken piety of his time he took the cross 
at the call of Peter the Hermit, and marched beneath the banner 
which "Swept the shores of Judah's sea, 

And waved in gales of G-alilee," 
but like many of his contemporaries in arms, he returned not to 
England, but ended his days near Jerusalem, in the first Crusade. 
His heart was interred at Whitby Abbey, His son Alan was father 
of William de Perci, one of the Barons who fought so successfully 
against the Scots at the Battle of the Standard, in defence of his 
country, and whose heiress Agnes, inherited the Perci estates and 
married Joceline de Louvaine. 

f In a window, in the Perci chancel of Petworth Church, is 
the legend in Grothic characters "Perci and Brus" on a label of 
coloured glass, the shield above it has been taken away. 



BATTLE OF LEWES. 17 

earned a name most worthy of mention,* 

The next lord William de Perci had twenty one 
knight's fees appertaining to the Honor of Petworth, 
as appears from the Scutage 8. Henry III. He died 
in 1245, and was buried in the abbey of Sallay in 
Yorkshire. 

Henry de Perci, his son who succeeded him was 
conspicuous in the turbulent politics of his time, he 
gave to the king £900 for livery of his lands and 
the liberty of marrying whom he pleased, — Eleanor 
daughter of John Earl de Warenne was the object of 
his choice. His large possessions not only in the 
North, but here in Sussex gave him great influence 
in the baron's war ; and at the battle of Lewes he 
fought valiantly on the king's side, but shared in 
the rout of the royalists and was taken prisoner.f 
ob. 1272. 

Henry the fifth Lord greatly distinguished him- 
self at the battle of Dunbar, and was in consequence 
made Governor of the South of Scotland. In 1300 
he attached his seal to the celebrated letter to Pope 
Boniface VIII. declaring the independence of the 
crown of England of any earthly tribunal. This seal 
is represented on the title page. J He was present at 

* Wendover ad. aim. 1215. For this he was excommunicated 
by Innocent III. Kymer's Foedera I, pt. I. 139. 

t "quorum unus erat Dominus Henricus de Perci, unus de 
melioribus in regno." Chr. Dover, quoted in Baron's War 175. 
Mat. Paris ad ann. 1264. 

J The lion rampant of the Percies was conspicuous in almost 



18 PETWORTH. 

the disastrous battle of Bannockburn and died 1315. 

Henry, his son was a yet more renowned warrior; 
knighted by the King at York (1322), he subse- 
quently favoured Queen Isabel, and after the acces- 
sion of Edward III. was much in France as an 
ambassador. He aided in defeating the Scots at 
Halidon Hill, and the next day was made Governor 
of Berwick. He was present at the great naval vic- 
tory of Sluys and at the siege of Dunbar, and 
crowned his successes at the hard fought field of 
Neville's Cross, near Durham, where he commanded 
the first division of the English army, which utterly 
defeated the Scots and took prisoner their king, who 
had invaded England, during the absence of Edward 
III., then before Calais. In the true spirit of a me- 
diaeval historiographer the Author of the Chronicle 
of Lanercost compares this Lord of Petworth, thus 
defending his country, to the Jewish hero of the 
Apocrypha,* — another Judas Maccabeus. He was 
buried f in the Priory of Alnwick, 1352. 

Henry de Perci the seventh lord engaged in the 
expedition which ended in the memorable battle of 
Creci; was entrusted with the custody of David 

every encounter of the time. 

"Jaune o un bleu lyon rampant 
Fu sa baniere bien vuable." 
Siege of Caerlaverock, 1300. 

* Dominus Henricus de Percy ut alter Judas Machabeus filius 
Matathise, bonus prceliator. "Chron. Lanercost" ad ann. 1346. 

t The very beautiful monument to his wife Idonea, in Beverley 
Church is commonly called the Percy shrine. 



WYCLIFS TRIAL. 19 

Bruce ; and was one of the witnesses to the treaties 
of peace, made at Bretagne and Paris. He died on 
Ascension Day, 1368. 

The fate of several members of this illustrious 
house was, henceforth, singularly unfortunate. Henry 
the eighth lord of Petworth was created Earl of 
Northumberland by Bichard II. From this date a 
series of catastrophes ensue. This Henry de Perci 
married Margaret daughter of Balph Lord Neville 
of Baby and became the father of Hotspur, on 
whose history I must ask leave for a digression. 
A circumstance of great historical interest in the life 
of Lord Perci, however, first calls for our attention. 
It occurred a few months before he was created Earl. 

In February, 1377, Wyclif the great reformer, 
who had been cited to defend his doctrines, at St. 
Paul's, proceeded thither, with four friars ; attended 
by John of Gaunt and the Lord Perci, Earl Marshal 
of England : the political opponent of Courtney, 
Bishop of London, who was most active against 
Wyclif. An immense concourse crowded St. Paul's 
to witness the proceedings. From the known ani- 
mosity of those on either side, the tumultuous scene 
which followed might have been anticipated. — The 
Earl Marshal was attended by a numerous retinue, 
and forced his way through the press into the cathe- 
dral, at which the Bishop, seeing "the stir that the 
the lord marshal kept" said, that "if he had known 
what maistries he would have kept in the church he 



20 PETWOKTH. 

would have stopped him out from coming there/' 
the Duke disdaining this not a little replied, "that 
he would keep such a maistry there, though he said 
nay." This was an ominous commencement. — When 
Wyclif came before the tribunal, the lord Perci told 
him "to sit down for he had many things to answer 
for and needed a soft seat." Courtney took this as an 
insult and declared that Wyclif should not sit there. 
—The Duke backed the Earl Marshal and a violent 
altercation ensued, which at length rose to such a 
height that John of Gaunt spoke of plucking Court- 
ney "out of the church by the hair of his head." 
The Londoners at this time greatly disliked the 
Duke; in some of his measures they thought that he 
had a design upon their liberties, and now they were 
indignant at such conduct towards their bishop ; 
rather than he should be touched, they said, they 
would lose their lives. The assembly broke up in 
confusion and thus suddenly Wyclif 's trial came to 
an end. 

But the next day's proceedings were yet more 
violent and give us a forcible illustration of the man- 
ners of that age. A bill posted in the city, on which 
Lord Perci's name appeared, excited the anger of 
the Londoners yet further, both against him and 
against the Duke; they assaulted his Palace, the 
Savoy, murdered a clerk there, whom they mistook 
for the Earl Marshal, and reversed the Duke's arms 
as those of a traitor, — they went to the house of Lord 



PKECIPITATE FLIGHT. 21 

Perci and broke into it, with the intention of killing 
him, they made diligent search for him with bills 
and javelins, thrusting into all corners and tearing 
beds and hangings asunder ; — but the Earl Marshal 
was not there, fortunately for him. He was with 
the duke. 

"Old John of Gaunt, time honoured Lancaster," 
had gone to Ipres inn. One John de Ipres had in- 
vited him to dinner. Lord Perci and he were begin- 
ing to make themselves comfortable, when in rushed 
a breathless messenger — the Londoners were upon 
them. Up jumped the Duke "being then at his 
oysters/ 5 * and tumbling over a form broke "both his 
shins, for haste." Lord Perci, being perhaps more 
active, got off with a whole skin. They both ran for 
their lives, reached the river, took boat and did not 
stay till they arrived at Kingston. Lord Perci soon 
after resigned the Office of Earl Marshal. 

Hotspur was this baron's eldest son. He will con- 
tinue to be regarded as the impersonation of intem- 
perate audacity, unrestrained passion and reckless 
courage, so long as our great national dramatist, 
Shakspere,f shall find readers, and when it is re- 
membered that the sword, £ which he wielded at 

* So says Foxe. Walsingham's statement is "relicto prandio, 
fugerunt." 

t Allusion was made, in the lecture, to the circumstance of the 
year being Shakspere's tercentenary. 

X "Here draw I 

A sword whose temper I intend to stain. 
With the best blood that I can meet withal, 



22 PETWOETH. 

Shrewsbury, is still preserved in Petworth House ; 
and that when he fell fighting on that fatal field, he 
was heir to the Honor and Manor of Petworth, it 
will be permitted us, here, to dwell a little upon the 
career of this hero. 

The greater part of his life was spent in the ser- 
vice of his country, and until a few days before his 
revolt, he was so engaged. When he took up arms 
against Henry IV., he had been unjustly treated by 
that king, who mainly owed his crown to him and 
to his father,* — one who was himself an usurper and 
whose usurpation entailed upon England all the 
bloodshed of the Wars of the Eoses. We become 
too, more interested in the biography of Hotspur, 
when we reflect that his venture was indeed a great 
one; for had he succeeded, as was nearly the case, he 
would have changed the whole constitution of this 
realm ; and whatever credence may be given to the 
celebrated tripartite* division of England between 
himself, Glendower and Mortimer, which is now 
usually considered a fiction ; from the knowledge 
which we have of his character we may be certain 
that, had he conquered, he would have secured, if 

In the adventure of this perilous day. 
Now JSsperance I Percy, and set on : 
Sound all the lofty instruments of war ; 
And by that music let us all embrace : 
For (heav'n to earth) some of us never shall 
A second time do such a courtesie." 

Henry IY. Part I. Act 5. Scene 5, 

* Hall, Henry IV. third yerc. 




SWORD USED BY HOTSPUR 

At the Battle of Shrewsbury, 

LENT BY LORD LECONFIELD, 

For the purpose of being engraved for this work, 

Prom a Photograph by F. G. Morgan, Petworth 



HOTSPUR. 23 

not the lion's share, at least, what he considered his 
fair portion of the spoil. 

Holinshed the old Chronicler tells us that "Henry- 
Percy was surnamedj/rom his of ten pricking , Harry 
Hotspur ; as one who seldom rested if there were 
service to be done abroad." The testimony of 
opponents is always valuable. — This appellation was 
given him by the Scots. "Bloody with spurring, 
fiery red with speed," he is always spoken of by 
writers of his time, as full of zeal and activity. 
Shakspere* thus plays upon his name, with the addi- 
tion that he early earned it. "Saith he young Harry- 
Percy's spur was cold, — of Hotspur, Coldspur." In 
the reign of Eichard II., he was entrusted with high 
commands, not only from his influential connections ; 
but from his own intrinsic ability. He was often 
employed against the Scots, and when Calais was 
threatened with a siege by the King of France, from 
his known military skill he was sent to its defence ; 
but as the siege was deferred, he became very im- 
patient, made several incursions into Picardy, to fill 



* By a comparison of Shakspere with the Chronicler Hall, it 
will at once be seen, that the poet chiefly borrows from him. Altho' 
recent investigations have shewn that Shakspere is incorrect with 
respect to some facts relating to Hotspur, yet his sketch of him, 
is, as a whole, an accurate one. Perhaps the most valuable of 
the Chronicles which can be consulted on the subject is that of 
Hardyng, who became a retainer of Hotspur at the age of twelve 
and was with him at Homildon and Shrewsbury. In addition we 
have five original letters written by Hotspur himself, published by 
Sir H. Nicolas in the Acts of the Privy Council. 



24 PETWORTH. 

up his time, and gained much booty,* and at length 
returned to England, vexed with the delay. As Lord 
"Warden of the Marches and Governor of Berwick, 
he was fully occupied and served again in France 
with success. 

After the accession of Henry IV., he was again 
Governor of Berwick, Warden of the Marches, Chief 
Justice of N. "Wales and Cheshire, and Constable of 
the Castles of Chester, Flint, Conway, and Caer- 
narvon. The ruins of some of these fortresses we 
still behold. With Owen Glendower, his subsequent 
ally, he then waged war. 

At the battle of Homildon (1402) Hotspur defeat- 
ed the army of the Scots, consisting of 40,000 men 
and captured many prisoners of rank and fortune. 
"Mordake the Earl of Fife, and eldest son 
To beaten Douglas, and the Earls of Athol, 
Of Murray, Angus, and Menteith," 
who had "brent the lande by South ."t 

Shakspere describes Hotspur after this battle, as 
"breathless and faint and leaning on his sword*" 
disgusted at the effeminacy of a court-messenger — 
himself a blunt, rough soldier, and he assigns as a 
reason for his revolt, his being defrauded by the 
king, of the ransom of these prisoners; this was 
doubtless one cause of the rupture between them; 

* "He had a gret jornay upon the Picardis, and Tbrout fro 
hem a gret pray." Capgrave, 243. 
t Hardyng, 359. 



HOTSPUR'S LETTERS. 25 

*but Hotspur's own letters written just before the 
battle of Shrewsbury supply the proximate reason. 
These letters are written in Norman French, the 
usual language of correspondence of the period and 
are quite in keeping with the character assigned to 
this illustrious scion of the house of Perci. 

Their general tenor is complaint. Large sums of 
money were due to him,t from the king and council, 
for the pay of troops. He seems to consider the 
king as treating him unfairly and as being biassed 
against him by certain members of the council, — and 
in the last letter, written only a few days before the 
battle, he threatens to resign his command unless 
some of the arrears were paid. It is clear that Henry 
ill requited the services of the Earl and his son in 
raising him to the throne, and followed the plausible 
counsel of others who had done less for him ; but 
had gained his ear. The anger of Hotspur, in con- 
sequence, at length culminated and hurried him on 
to combat with his sovereign, even to the death. 
Every reader of our great poet has vivid impressions 



* So says Hardyng, who had good opportunity of knowing, 
"at the batail of Shrwesbury, I wase with hym armed of XXV yere 
of age, as I had bene afore at Homildon, Cokelawe, and at divers 
rodes and feeldes." Chron. 351. 

t Acts of Privy Council Yols. i. 151 — 158. ii. 57. In the last 
and most characteristic letter, Hotspur though good with the 
sword distrusts his skill with the pen, he excuses himself as writ- 
ing in "a royde et feble manere," and concludes by stating that his 
soldiers were in such distress that without providing a remedy he 
neither could nor dared go to the Marches, and therefore requests 
the Council to take such measures as they might think proper. 



26 PETWORTH. 

of the scenes connected with, the battle of Shrews- 
bury, (July 21st, 1403,) of Falstaff on the march 
with his troop of ragged substitutes, through whom 
he put money into his own pocket and of whom he 
said himself "No eye hath seen such scarecrows." 
With this Prince Henry's observation corresponded, 
"1 did never see such pitiful rascals ;"* but the fat 
man was not easily abashed, 

"Tut, Tut, Good enough to toss, 
Food for powder, Food for powder, 
They'll fill a pit, as well as better, 
Tush man, — Mortal men, mortal men." 
What can be more amusing than his soliloquy, 
when after leading his raw recruits where he knows 
"they will get well peppered," he feigns death him- 
self, and then seeing Hotspur fall near him, fears 
lest he too should be shamming — although the end 
of such a patriot is deserving of all honor, we cannot 
help smiling at the train of thought which Shak- 
speare represents as passing through the mind of this 
most inimitable character. 

"Zounds I am afraid of this gunpowder Percy, 
though he be dead — How if he should counterfeit 
too and rise ? I am afraid he would prove the better 

* In striking contrast with these are the picked men of 
Hotspur's army. 

"With Percy was the Erie of Worcester 
With nyne thousonde of gentyls all that wer. 
Of knyghtes, squyers, and chosen yomanry, 
And archers fyne, mthouten Hascaldry" 

MS8. Lansd. 



SHREWSBURY FIELD. 27 

counterfeit ; therefore I'll make him sure ; yea, and 
I'll swear I killed him. Why may not he rise as 
well as I ? Nothing confutes me but eyes ; and no 
body sees me. Therefore, sirrah with a new wound 
in your thigh, come you along with me." 

Despite the claim of Falstaff and Prince Henry 
to having killed Hotspur, the manner of his death is 
uncertain. Speed the Chronicler says, that "he was 
killed by an unknown hand." Capgrave an exceed- 
ingly quaint writer puts it thus, "Herri Percy, after 
the properte of his name, percid or pressed in so 
fer, that he was ded, and no man wist of whom." 
Hotspur's death decided the contest.* When the cry 
was raised by the royalists "Henry Percy is dead" 
"the Scots fled, the Welshmen ran," and the whole 
of his army broke up in confusion.f The Earl of 
Worcester J and Sir Eobert Vernon, who fell into 
the hands of the king, were beheaded on the follow- 
ing Monday. Hotspur was slain in the 41st year of 
his age.§ 

* Both Hall & Grafton describe the engagement and give, at 
length, the challenge previously sent by the confederates to the king. 

t The commencement had been in Hotspur's favour, the 
volleys of his archers caused dreadful carnage among the king's 
troops. "They fell" says Walsingham "as the leaves fall on the 
ground after a frosty night, at the approach of winter. There was 
no room for the arrows to reach the ground, every one struck a 
mortal man." The battle continued for three hours with indifferent 
success. Hall. 

X "Unkyll onto the same Herry." Capgrave. 

§ Hotspur's wife, Shakspere's "Grentle Kate," the Lady Eliza- 
beth Mortimer, daughter of Edmund Earl of March, afterwards 
married Thomas Lord Camois, and is represented with him on a 
very beautiful brass in Trotton Church, Sussex. It was no doubt 
Petworth which brought her into this neighbourhood. 



28 PETWOKTH. 

How formidable he had been in life, may be 
inferred from the fact that even after his burial, his 
remains were not suffered to rest in peace. His dis- 
interment is a curious instance of the barbarity of 
the period. "Forasmoche as som peple seyde that Sr 
Herry Percy was alyve he was taken up ayen out of 
his grave and bounden upright between to mille 
stones, that all men might se that he was ded." 
(Chron. Lond.) 

The fate of his father, the Earl of Northumber- 
land, a veritable king maker, who must however be 
censured for his betrayal of Richard II., was no less 
tragical. After Hotspur's death, he rebelled again, 
was beheaded, his head then white with years was 
sent to London, and his dismembered limbs were 
affixed to the walls of four towns far distant from 
each other. 

The second Earl of Northumberland, Hotspur's 
son, was restored to his honors by Henry V., and ap- 
pointed constable of England. He became a faithful 
adherent of the Lancastrian party, and was slain in 
that cause at the first battle of St. Alban's, 1455. 
He is supposed to be the Earl Percy, sung of in the 
long popular ballad of Chevy Chase, which has 
however in its fine passages,* historical difficulties, 

* What its effect was on one of our greatest heroes, himself a 
model of chivalry, we learn from his own words, "I never heard 
the old song of Percy and Douglas, that I found not my heart 
moved more than with a trumpet." Sir Philip Sidney. Defence 
of Poesie. 



CHEVY CHASE. 29 

insuperable. The Earl is represented as slain by a 
Scottish knight. 

"Sir Hugh Mountgomery was he call'd, 
Who with a spere most bright, 
Well mounted on a gallant steed, 
Kan fiercely through the fight ; 

And past the English archers all, 

Without all dread or feare ; 
And through Earl Percye's body then 

He thrust his hatefull spere ; 

With such a vehement force and might 

He did his body gore, 
The staff ran through the other side 

A large cloth yard, and more." 

But the Earl Percy thus slain, lived afterwards, 
to fall at St. Albans. It is difficult to kill a man 
twice, and there is no other Earl of this line, to 
whom the circumstances of the ballad will apply.* 

Henry, third Earl, was born at Leconfield, 1421, 
was knighted by Henry VI., and continued faithful 
to the cause of the Red Eose. He was Captain 
General for Queen Margaret in the North, and com- 
manded the Lancastrians at the battle of Towton, 

* Fuller is at great pains to prove this, "not in praise of the 
exploits of this line," he says "for what need a good head of hair 
wear a periwig ; but that it should not be beholden to an untruth 
to commend its martial achievements.' ' His son Thomas Percy, 
born at Leconfield, first Lord Egremont, was created Baron 1449, 
and was slain at Northampton, 1460. (Dugdale.) 



30 PETWOBTH. 

unequalled for slaughter in the annals of English 
civil war: amidst the bloodstained snow of this 
fiercely contested field he fell, (1461). 

Only a cursory view of some of the succeeding 
Earls can be taken. The fortunes of the next (Henry) 
were chequered, and he too met a violent death. 
A heavy tax had been imposed on the Northern 
counties, and this Earl having been wrongly sus- 
pected of conniving at it, the enraged populace 
broke into his house at Cocksedge, near Thirsk, and 
murdered him. 

Henry Algernon his son, although then but eleven 
years old, had already been knighted ; at the battle 
of Blackheath, he commanded, and was present at 
the engagement called "the Spurs." He was con- 
spicuous in the splendid court of Henry VIII., at 
which, it is said "many of the nobles wore on their 
shoulders their mills, their forests, and their mea- 
dows, 5 ' endeavouring to exceed each other in the 
sumptuousness of their attire and in their magnifi- 
cent style of living. The great wealth of this Earl 
enabled him to surpass all his contemporaries,* His 
establishment was for 223 persons daily, and the 
money annually expended in his housekeeping, 
£1118 „ 18 „ 8 ; a very large sum at that time. 
The Northumberland Household Bookf entitled, 

* Hall. Leland, Collectanea. 

f From this Book the following extract is taken as an illus- 
tration of the substantial breakfasts, then made by the nobility. 



NOETHUMBEELAND HOUSEHOLD BOOK. 31 

"The Regulations and Establishment of the House- 
hold of Henry Algernon Percy, the fifth Earl of 
Northumberland, at his Castles of Wresil and Lekin- 
field in Yorkshire, begun A. D. 1512," supplies us 
with this information. He died 1527, and was buried 
in Beverley Minster,* 

The sixth Earl, also Henry Algernon, in early 
life was an attendant on Cardinal Wolsey, and while 
so engaged became enamoured of the beautiful Anne 
Boleyn. With so dangerous a rival for her hand as 
Henry VIII., we may deem him fortunate in not 
losing his head as well as his heart. His father 
hearing of the irascible monarch's pretensions to the 
lady, advised him to discontinue his suit, with which 
advice he at length wisely complied. He also induced 
him to marry the Lady Mary Talbot ; but the Earl 
left no issue, and is said to have separated from her. 
His brother Thomas was beheaded for treason in 



Breakfast allowance, "for my lord and my lady" a loaf of bread, in 
trenchers, two manchets, one quart of beer, a quart of wine, half a 
chine of mutton, or a chine of beef, boiled, "breakfast for the 
nurcery" for my lady Margaret and Mr. Ingram Percy, — the 
children, a manchet, one quart of beer, and three mutton bones 
broiled. On fish days "for my lord and my lady" instead of beef 
or mutton, two pieces of salt fish, six baked herrings or a dish of 
sprats ; "in the nurcery" instead of mutton, a piece of salt fish, a 
dish of sprats or three white herrings. It will be observed that the 
custom of two persons eating from one mess or platter had not 
then been discontinued. 

* The body of this Countess Catherine or the preceding Coun- 
tess Maud, was exhumed in 1671, when it was "found in a stone 
coffin, embalmed and wrapped in cloth of gold, with slippers em- 
broidered with silver and gold, a wax lamp, and a plated candlestick 
with a candle." 



32 PETWORTH* 

Aske's rebellion, and this is supposed to have hasten- 
ed his end. He died of a broken heart, 1537. 

Thomas, son of Sir Thomas Percy, above men- 
tioned was created by Queen Mary, Baron Percy of 
Cockermouth and Petworth, (1557), and subse- 
quently became seventh Earl of Northumberland 
by re-creation. He was a zealous Romanist, rebelled 
against Queen Elizabeth, fled to Scotland, and hav- 
ing been given up by the Earl of Morton, was be- 
headed 1572.* 

His brother Henry, having conformed to the 
Protestant religion became the eighth Earl of North- 
umberland, he was employed by Queen Elizabeth in 
important military services, and enjoyed her favor 
during the greater part of her reign. At length his 
loyalty was suspected. He was committed to the 
Tower on suspicion of having plotted with Sir 
Francis Throgmorton and Lord Paget to liberate 
the Queen of Scots. There overwhelmed with grief 
and indignation at his lengthened imprisonment, he 
yielded to despair, and shot himself with a dag or 
pistol. June 21st, 1585,f 

* His portrait in Petworth House, taken "iEtatis sua? 38, 
A. D. 1566" represents him kneeling before a table with a book 
opened, he wears the order of the garter suspended by a gold chain. 

f Holinshed says "The Earl was found dead in his bed, shot 
with three bullets near the left pap, his chamber door was barred on 
the inside, and a coroner's inquest having viewed the body, con- 
sidered the place, and found a pistol with gunpowder in the cham- 
ber, having also examined the Earl's man who bought the pistol 
and the person that sold it, had no hesitation in giving their ver- 
dict that he killed himself." 



GUNPOWDER PLOT. 33 

Of Henry the ninth Earl, there is an admirable 
portrait by Vandyck, in Petworth House, he is 
painted, sitting in a pensive posture, and leaning 
upon a table, on which are a diagram describing the 
principle of the lever, and a horologe. During his 
long confinement of more than fifteen years, in the 
Tower, he found a solace in scientific pursuits. This 
incarceration he suffered from having been unjustly 
suspected of being privy to the Gunpowder Plot,* 
in which his relative Thomas Percy was concerned. 
He was condemned to be imprisoned for life and to 
pay the enormous fine of £30,000 of which, although 
a part was remitted, £20,000 were paid. At length 
he was released,f through the intercession of his 
daughter the Countess of Carlisle, and retired to 
Petworth, where he abstained entirely from court, 
but enjoyed the society of the most eminent and 
powerful men. He was a patron of learned men in 

* He enjoyed much favor with Queen Elizabeth and with 
James L, until this time. Another portrait by Yansomer was 
taken of him when engaged in the wars of the Low Countries. He 
supplied a ship in the expedition against the Spanish Armada and 
commanded it in person. 

t "That afternoon the Earl of Northumberland was released 
from his long imprisonment in the Tower, when the Lord Doncaster 
(his son in law) went to fetch him, and brought him to his house 
with a coach and six horses. It was my chance to see him in Paul's 
Churchyard, and in my judgment he is nothing altered from that 
he was more than fifteen years ago that he was committed. He 
hath liberty to be at Petworth, or any place within thirty miles 
compass of it. ...The Wardens of the Tower make great moan that 
they have lost such a benefactor." Letter of Mr. Chamberlain. 
Nichol's Progresses of James I. iv. 670. 



34 PETWOBTH. 

general, and of mathematicians in particular;* being 
himself very fond of mathematics. He also possessed 
great architectural taste and judgment. He died at 
Petworth, Nov. 5th, 1632, and was buried here. 

Algernon, tenth Earl, his son, lived through the 
great struggle between the king and parliament to 
see the Restoration of Charles II. He was made 
Knight of the Garter in 1635. The next year he 
had the command of a fleet of sixty sail, to clear the 
English coasts of the Dutch fishermen, and the year 
following was appointed Lord High Admiral f of 
England. He sided with the Parliament when the 
rupture took place; but was opposed to the trial and 
execution of Charles I. He was entrusted with the 
care of the king's children, whom he always treated 
with the utmost kindness and respect, and allowed 
their father all the intercourse with them in his 
power. After the king's death he lived at Petworth 
in retirement from public employment, delighting in 
his gardens and plantations. He was subsequently 
a sincere promoter of the Eestoration and held a 
conference with General Monk at Northumberland 

* One of the most known of these is Hariot, who resided at 
Petworth House, and some of whose papers are still preserved 
there. Sir W. Baleigh had free intercourse with the Earl, while 
they were both at the same time imprisoned in the Tower. 

f The silver matrix of his seal bears, Obv. An armed figure 
on horseback, the sea and ships in the distance ; in the field, a 
crescent, within a garter, surmounted by an Earl's coronet. Bev. 
An achievement of 16 quart erings, within a garter, with supporters, 
crest on helm, lambrequins, &c. — Sigillum Algernoni Comitis 
Northumbrise Decimi. Arch. Journal XIV. 358. 



ELIZABETH BARONESS PERCY. 35 

House, at which a plan was concerted for restoring 
a limited monarchy. On the return of Charles IL, 
he became one of his Privy Councillors. His first 
wife was Lady Anne Cecil,* — with this marriage we 
have still a visible connection in "The Cecil Oak,"f 
planted in Petworth Park in commemoration of it. 
This fine tree, although it has stood for more than 
two centuries, is now flourishing in vigor and beauty 
without symptoms of decay. The Earl also espoused 
a second wife, the Lady Elizabeth Howard, by whom 
he had an only son. 

Joceline, eleventh and last Earl of Northumber- 
land, who married Lady Elizabeth Wriothesly and 
had an only daughter, he died, on a tour at Turin, 
1670, and was brought to Petworth for interment. 
There are portraits of him by Sir P, Lely, at Pet- 
worth House. 

The stately line of the Earls of Northumberland 
having thus terminated, the Percy estates devolved 
on the Lady Elizabeth, Baroness Percy, heiress to 
the last Earl's vast possessions. It is affirmed of her 
that she was "three times a wife before she was 18." 
Her first husband was Henry Cavendish, Earl of 
Ogle, who took the name and arms of Percy. He 
died about a year afterwards, and was buried at 

* There is a portrait of this Earl, with Lady Ann Cecil and 
their daughter, by Yandyck, in Petworth House. He died 1668 
and was buried at Petworth. 

t This Oak which stands not far from the lower pond, has 
upon it an inscription giving the date of the marriage. 



36 PETWORTH. 

Petworth, Nov. 16th, 1680. {Petworth Register.) 
She was secondly affianced to Thomas Thynne, Esq. 
of Longleat, who was assassinated in 1681, by ruffians 
hired for the purpose by Count von Konigsniark, 
who himself entertained hopes of marrying the young 
heiress ; but his design having been discovered, he 
fled the country. Thirdly, in May, 1682, being 
then only fifteen years of age, she gave her hand to 
Charles Seymour,* Duke of Somerset, usually known 
as "the proud Duke." He had covenanted to take 
the name and arms of Percy; but was released from 
that condition by the Duchess when she came of age. 
They had thirteen children of whom only one son 
and three daughters arrived at maturity. 

Of Charles, sixth Duke of Somerset, it is related 
that he "lived in almost regal state, intimated his 
commands to his servants by signs, and when he 
travelled, the roads were cleared of all obstruction 
and of idle bystanders. His children were never 
permitted to sitf in his presence, and when, as was 

* The family of Seymour came to England with the Conqueror. 
Edward Seymour, the Protector, and brother to Jane Seymour 
Queen of Henry VEIL, was created Duke of Somerset in the reign 
of Edward VI. Charles Seymour above mentioned was sixth Duke. 

t It is also traditionally said that he did not allow his 
children or any person of inferior rank to himself to turn his or 
her back upon him. The servant who blew the fire was conse- 
quently obliged to perform this office by holding the bellows in a 
most awkward and inconvenient posture, and it is stated that on 
one occasion, when the usual lacquey was not able to attend upon 
his Grace, another person who either did not know or had forgot- 
ten the usual etiquette, instead of blowing in the accustomed man- 
ner, suddenly turned, and thus excited the anger of the Duke in 
the highest degree. 



CHARLES DUKE OF SOMERSET. 37 

his custom, he slept in the afternoon, two of his 
daughters stood, one on each side of him, during his 
slumber. On a certain occasion we are told that 
lady Charlotte Seymour being tired, sat down, and 
that the duke in consequence bequeathed to her 
£20,000 less than her sister.* He gave precedence 
to no one but the Duke of Norfolk, yet even his 
political opponents admitted that "he had some fine 
qualities, including a strict sense of honor, and that 
his conversation was graced by nobleness of sentiment. 
He was a firm and generous friend and patronized the 
fine arts."f The Duke of Somerset was handsome 
in person and says Granger "never forgot that his 
Duchess was a Percy and as such treated her with 
devotion and respect. 5 'J The Duchess was sincerely 
attached to him and as Queen Anne "had a singular 
affection and esteem for her" this circumstance aided 
him against the opposite ministry. § The Duke's 
steady adherence to the Protestant cause has scarcely 
received sufficient attention. In 1687 when asked 
by James II. to attend the Pope's nuncio to his 
audience he refused, desiring his Majesty to excuse 

* Noble. 

t Correspondence. — Reign of Queen Anne. 

X His second wife was Lady Charlotte Finch, who once 
tapped him familiarly on the shoulder with a fan, at which he was 
much displeased and sharply reproved her, while he eulogized his 
first Duchess. 

§ Boyer, Reign of Queen Anne, 531. The Duke was at this 
time Master of the Horse : the Duchess, Groom of the Stole to 
her Majesty. There are portraits of both by Kneller in Pet worth 
House. 



38 PETWORTH. 

him from an office which, the law of the land made 
criminal.* In 1688 he offered his services to the 
Prince of Orange, and when Queen Anne's immediate 
decease was anticipated, he acted with much energy ; 
hastened to the Council then at Kensington and 
exerted himself to secure the Protestant succession.f 
His Grace lived during the reigns of Charles II., 
James II., William & Mary, George I., George II., 
and attended the funerals of most of these sovereigns. 
The improvements which he affected in Petworth 
House and his foundation of the Somerset Hospital 
will be subsequently alluded to. He died 1748. 

His only son Algernon succeeded him as seventh 
Duke of Somerset, and owner of the Petworth 
Estates, which passed to him under his mother's 
settlement. He had previously at her death succeed- 
ed to the Barony of Perci, and by letters patent, 23 
George II., (1740) had been created Baron Wark- 
worth and Earl of Northumberland, which last title 
was, in default of heirs male to devolve on Sir Hugh 
Smythson, Bart., who had married his only daughter 
Elizabeth, and on their heirs male. 

On October 3rd in the same year the Duke was 
also created Baron Cockermouth and Earl of Egre- 
mont, with remainder, in default of male issue, to his 

* Kapin II. 760. At this time he was a lord of the bed cham- 
ber, and colonel of the third regiment of dragoons, both of which 
posts he lost by his refusal. 

t By this prompt proceeding the measures of Bolingbroke 
were disconcerted. Creasy on the Constitution. 303. 



WYNDHAM GENEALOGY. 39 

nephew Sir Charles Wyndham,* eldest son of his 
sister Lady Catherine Seymour, who had married 
Sir William Wyndham, Bart.,f the celebrated States- 
man in the reign of Queen Anne. 

Duke Algernon died (1750). Sir Hugh Smyth- 
son then became Earl of Northumberland and was 
created duke of the same county in 1766, and Sir 
Charles Wyndham became Earl of Egremont, and 
possessor of the Honor and Manor of Petworth. He 

* The Wyndham genealogy a long and noble one, is derived 
from Ailwardus an eminent Saxon who had lands at Wymondham 
(now written Wyndham) in Norfolk. Members of the family dis- 
tinguished themselves at Poictiers, Stoke and Terouenne. Sir John 
Wyndham was knighted in the reign of Edward VI., and had the 
estate of Orchard, in Somerset, in right of his wife, which after- 
wards remained in the family. Sir Thomas Wyndham was a zealous 
Cavalier well known as having urged his sons to continue faithful 
to Charles I., in these last words, "Though the crown should hang 
upon a bush I charge you forsake it not." One of the sons was 
afterwards created a Baronet for aiding Charles II. The grand- 
father of Sir W. Wyndham the eminent Minister was also created 
a Baronet by the same king. 

f Master of the Buckhounds, Secretary at War, a Member of 
the Privy Council and Chancellor of the Exchequer. One of the 
most eminent of English Statesmen, in 1714 he brought into the 
House of Commons and carried successfully through it a "Bill to 
prevent the growth of Schism, and for the future security of the 
Church of England," and was appointed to carry it up to the 
House of Lords where it also passed. In the reign of George I., 
the opposition endeavoured to crush him and he was even seized 
at his House at Orchard Wyndham ; but altho' he escaped and 
was afterwards committed to the Tower, they did not ventrtre to 
bring him to trial. He was equally remarkable for his patriotism, 
his integrity and his eloquenee. In the well known lines of Pope 
lie is handed down to posterity as 

"Wyndham just to freedom and the throne, 
The master of our passions and his own." 
There are several portraits of him at Petworth. His sagacity, skill 
and address in debate, wit, and extensive knowledge rendered him 
an ornament of his time. 



40 PETWORTH. 

died in 1763,* and was succeeded by his son, then but 
twelve years of age. 

George Wyndham, third Earl of Egremont, who 
inheriting also, the possessions in Ireland of his 
uncle, the Earl of Thomond,f took in addition the 
name of O'Brien. Thus the Percy, O'Brien and 
Wyndham Estates devolved upon this nobleman, 
who lived to complete his 85th year, "During the 
greater part of his long life he resided at Petworth, 
and was distinguished for his scientific and literary 
attainments and his most liberal patronage of the 
arts, X He expended vast sums in adding to the 
valuable collection of pictures at Petworth House, in 
which his munificence was equalled only by his taste 
and discernment." The additions and improvements 
which he effected at Petworth House, his liberality 
in the restoration of Petworth Church, his erection 
of the Market House, formation of new roads and 

* His lordship, while he was a commoner, was elected to par- 
liament as soon as he came of age, for Bridgewater. He sat after- 
wards for Appleby, Taunton, and Coekermouth. In 1761, he was 
nominated the first of the three plenipotentiaries on the part of 
Great Britain in the intended Congress of Augsburg, and in the 
same year succeeded Mr. Pitt as one of the principal secretaries of 
state. In 1762 he was made lord lieutenant and custos rotulorum 
of the county of Sussex. He expired of apoplexy, June, 1763. 
Chalmers. 

f The younger son of Sir Charles Wyndham, Percy Wyndham 
O'Brien, was created Earl of Thomond ; but dying without chil- 
dren, left his estates to the Earl of Egremont, his nephew. 

J Like his ancestor, Henry Perci; ninth Earl of Northumber- 
land, he has been styled "the Maecenas of his age," and it has been 
said of him with truth that, — 

"To pining genius he raised up a way, 
And merit ushered to the blaze of day." 



SCENERY OP THE PARK. 41 

other benefits entailed upon the town, need no 
further mention here, as they will appear in the 
following chapters. 

The Earl died at Petworth, Nov. 11th, 1837, 
leaving his estates to his son, George Wyndham, the 
present possessor, formerly of the Grenadier Guards 
and Colonel of the 20th Regiment of Light Dragoons, 
who was created Baron Leconfield, of Leconfield in 
the county of York (1859); whose heir is the Hon- 
orable Henry Wyndham, M. P. for West Sussex; 
Captain in the 1st Life Guards. 

CHAPTER III. 

The Park — Royal Visits — Petworth House. 

Lead him forth into the Park. — SJiakspere* 

Although Petworth can boast of the picturesque 
beauty of its surrounding scenery from several points 
of view, yet its chief glory is the Park, the present 
extent of which is about 1,973 acres, surrounded by 
a stone wall of about ten miles in extent. Walpole 
was delighted with the grandeur of its appearance ; 
it is, he says, "Percy to the backbone." From the 
tower at the highest point of the upper park one of 
the finest panoramic views in the county can be 
obtained, that in the direction of Blackdown being 
especially beautiful. The large piece of water, in 
front of the house, with the adjacent hill has afford- 
ed a subject for some of our most eminent landscape 



42 PETWORTH. 

painters. Two centuries ago, it was much more 
densely wooded, for Norden speaks of Petworth 
Park in his time, as among the famous woods de- 
stroyed by the iron furnaces ; and doubtless at a yet 
earlier period, it afforded a hunting ground to the 
Lords and Earls, spoken of, in the previous chapter, 
in which they chased the deer through its sylvan 
glades. 

That the Percies had a residence here from the 
time of their first coming into possession of the Pet- 
worth estate is most probable. The earliest evidence 
of this however, is a licence granted 2, Edward II. 
{Patent Rolls, 1309), to Henry de Perci "to fortify 
and krenellate, with a wall of stone and lime his 
manors of Spofford and Lekynfield, in the County of 
York, and of Petworth, in the County of Sussex." 
It is conjectured by Dallaway, that this house stood 
on the hill in the park and that the old chesnut trees 
there (in front of the present cricket ground),* are 
evidence of such being the case, this is not impro- 
bable. 

That there was a prison here, twenty years later, 
I have ascertained from a curious incident mention- 
ed by a mediaeval writer. On the 12th of April, 
1330, one Thomas de Natindon, a proctor of the 
Pope, with three others went to Slindon, then an 
archiepiscopal manor, where the Archbishop of 

* I am also informed that large stones sometimes occur on 
this spot. 



A PROCTOR HUNTED. 43 

Canterbury, Simon de Mepham, happened to be 
staying. Their object was to serve a Papal writ 
upon the Archbishop, — they met with an unpleasant 
reception. The Archbishop's retainers surmising 
their intention admitted them into the hall, and 
allowed the writ to be produced ; but no sooner did 
it appear than they fell upon them with swords and 
clubs, they first stripped them, tied their hands and 
feet, and as was afterwards stated in evidence, poured 
about six gallons of cold water over them. Natindon 
made for the door, mounted his horse, and rode off; 
but a hot pursuit ensued, with shouts and blowing 
of horns,* they hunted him over the hills, "usque 
ad manerium domini Henrici de Percy , Pettewarth 
nomine." At Petworth he was taken, and there kept 
in prison for three days, when he again contrived to 
escape. One of the most remarkable circumstances 
connected with this matter was, that the Pope (John 
XXII.) excommunicated the Archbishop, because it 
was suspected that he had connived at these pro- 
ceedings, which indeed appears likely, and that the 
Archbishop did not concern himself about it; but 
died under sentence of excommunication, fearless of 
any danger in consequence, and therefore according 
to the custom of the age, remained unburied until 
the sentence was formally removed from his body, f 

* c< utliesio et cornubus." 

t X. Script. Thorn, 2044. A detailed account of this trans- 
action is given by Dean Hook in his Life of Mepham. Lives of the 
Archbishops of Canterbury, Vol. III. 



44 PETWORTH. 

Before adverting to the subsequent residences of 
the Percy family, it will be well to note such royal 
visits as have been made to Petworth and Petworth 
House, these are always interesting, and the records 
of them yet remain. 

From an Itinerary of Edward I., it appears that 
this monarch came to Petworth on Monday, June 
29th, 1299, — but did not stay ; this is apparent, 
because he was at Horsham the same day, as well as 
the day following. Another entry shews that soon 
after Geoffrey de Stoke, one of the king's clerks was 
also here ; for there is an order in advance, of 26s. 
and 6d. on his going to London to provide silver 
cups and jewels. This was paid him at Petteworth, 

In the Sussex Archaeological Collections an in- 
teresting visit of the unfortunate king, Edward II. 
is narrated. He journeyed into Sussex in 1324, and 
remained at Petworth two days. This sovereign was 
fond of luxuries, which could not then be procured 
in the country, — these, it was his custom to have for- 
warded to the places to which he was going, — 
packages of dainties and spices, among which were 
almonds, ginger, pepper, mace, saffron, and sugar 
loaves. On Tuesday, September 4th, the King was 
at Horsham and came to Petworth by way of New- 
bridge, in the parish of Pulborough, he arrived here 
on Thursday, September 6th. Edward was a gay 
monarch, fond of pomp and pageant, many a bright 
eye doubtless gazed admiringly on the royal pro- 



VISIT OF EDWARD II. 45 

cession, as the retinue of earls, knights and squires 
moved along, with their attendant men-at-arms. The 
household charges that day at "Petteworth" amount- 
ed to £11 : 2 : 3; a missive too was thence despatched 
at an expence of 16d. 

The King was known to be fond of fruit, the Kec- 
tor of the Church of Petworth accordingly made him 
a present of seven score pears. Of the quality of the 
pears which grew in the Rectory garden in the time 
of Edward II. it is impossible now to speak ; but I 
must be allowed to bear personal testimony that 
good pears grew there twelve years ago. The king's 
table was not ill supplied: William de la Zouche, 
who held lands at Chiltington, sent for the king's 
use 4 score and 16 nuts of St. Philibert, 28 flagons 
of wine, 2 flagons of beer, 2 carcases of oxen, 4 
swans, and 6 herons. 

On Friday the 7th, the expenses were £8 : 17 : 5| 
and the presents consisted of bread, 3 eels, 1 trout, 
3 large pike, 3 bream, 4 mullets, — a fish dinner for 
the Friday we observe ; but the day was not passed 
in gloom, for there is an entry of 20s. paid to one 
Nicholas the Harper who came in the suite of the 
Lady de Camoys and played before the king, who 
was fond of music. This was a gift by the king's 
own hands.* 

The following day Edward II. left Petworth and 
went into Hampshire, by way of Petersfield. 

* S. A. C. vi. 49. 



46 PETWOKTH, 

The next royal visit was that of Edward VI. On 
the £lst of July, 1552,* he entered Sussex, travelling 
from Guildford, by way of Shillinglee, and visited 
three places in this county; Petworth, Cowdray, and 
Halnaker.f We may form some idea of the passion 
for pageantry in England, in this reign whenwe find 
that the young king came into Sussex with 4,000 
men, who says one who was present, "were enough 
to eat up the country," speaking especially of Pet- 
worth, where he tells us, "ther was little medow nor 
hay/' — this part of the county was then, probably, 
densely wooded. As the king approached our town 
he gave orders that the bands of the great lords 
should be reduced to 150, he himself retaining his 
own guards. Edward VI. was well attended as he 
rode into Petworth, there were with him, "The 
Lord Treasourer; the Lord Privie Seal; the Duke of 
Suffolke ; th' Erie of Huntingdon ; the Lord Admy- 
rall ; the Lord Chamberlayne ; the Lord Cobham ; 
the Lord Warden ; th' Erie of Warwick.''^ Sixteen 
trumpeters rent the air with the loud blasts of their 
instruments, these musicians were gaily attired in 
new liveries which they had received before setting 

* Ibid, x. 199. 

t "Inde Gruilfordam, Petwoorthaque, transit in arva;" Sta- 
pleton, Carm. Grat. 

% The Privy Council sat at Petworth on the 23rd and 26th of 
July, 1552. A grant to Sir John Cheke, the king's schoolmaster, 
that one of his servants, at all times, might shoot in the cross-bow, 
hand- gun, hack-but, or demy -hack, at certain fowl and deer therein 
mentioned, notwithstanding the statute 33 Henry VIII., was dated 
at Petworth, July 23rd. 



PKOGRESS OF EDWARD VI. 47 

out on this progress. The yeomen, grooms, and 
pages were all arrayed in red cloth, and bore hal- 
berts, bows, and javelins.* The king slept here four 
nights, and enjoyed his visit greatly. Writing to his 
friend in France,f who was campaigning against the 
Emperor, he says "Whereas you al have been occu- 
pied in killing of your enemies, in long marchings, 
in pained journays, in extreme heat, in sore skirmish- 
ings, and divers assaltes, we have been occupied in 
killing of wild bestes, in pleasant journey es, in good 
fare, in vewing of fair countries, and rather have 
sought how to fortify our own (Portsmouth) than to 
spoile another man's: we came to Gilford, from 
thence to Petworth, &c." 

It may be observed that the manor of Petworth 
was, at this time, in the hands of the crown, and that 
Edward VI. was probably entertained by Henry, 
Earl of Arundel, who was then master of the game 
here. 

Whether our illustrious Queen Elizabeth visited 
this town or not is still a qucestio vexata. Of her 
progress to Cowdray and her entertainment there 
"when from cares of state released," we are well 



* "Liverie bowes, guilt javelinges, sheaves of arrows, halberds, 
girdells and cases" had been previously delivered to them by royal 
warrant. 

t Edward VI. wrote this letter to his favorite companion 
Barnaby Fitzpatrick, who as a boy had been appointed to undergo 
any whippings the royal pupil might deserve. The young sovereign 
kept up a correspondence with him during his short life, which 
terminated within a year after his visit to Petworth. 



48 PETWOKTH. 

informed. But although expected* here, it appears 
more probable that she did not come. 

The visit of the king of Spain in 1703, always 
associated with mud, will be again noticed, f 

On June 24th, 1814, when Sussex "clinkers" or 
iron stone had ameliorated the roads, the allied 
Sovereigns came to Petworth. George IV. (then 
Prince Regent), Alexander Emperor of Russia, the 
King of Prussia, the Prince of Wurtemberg, and the 
Grand Duchess of Oldenberg, with their respective 
suites were received by the Earl of Egremont at Pet- 
worth House. This meeting is the subject of a picture 

* It is certain that a visit to Henry, eighth Earl, at Petworth 
was contemplated ; but in a letter to Sir F. Walsingham by Sir W. 
CornwaUis, dated— "Fro Petworth the XXIXth of June, 1583," it 
appears that every quiet mode was adopted to put it aside. "Sir, — 
My Lord of Northumberland understanding a new speach of Her 
Majestie coming into the cuntrey, having apointed now a great 
provision, wich he had ordeined for receyving of her, hath sent up 
his servant, the bearer to bring him as much certeinty as he can 
lern of this matter &c." he then alludes to the shortness of time in 
which the preparations would have to be made, to the "want of 
health in my lady," and to the badness of the roads, with the 
evident intention of deferring the visit. The Earl, who was pro- 
bably at least acquainted with Throgmorton's conspiracy, for which 
he was afterwards imprisoned in the Tower, did not wish to receive 
the Queen at this time, and as there is no record of her coming it 
was most likely obviated. 

+ The details of this visit are given in a letter of a gentleman 
belonging to the court, who appears to have attentively observed 
the Spanish monarch. The King was received at the door of Pet- 
worth House by the Duchess of Somerset. At supper he sat at 
the middle of a very large oval table, and "eat and drank very 
heartily but tasted no liquors but his own, which were the small 
drink — water discoloured by the infusion of cinnamon ; and the 
strong red and white tyrol wine. When he calls for either of them, 
"says the writer," his taster who is also one of the Lords of his bed- 
chamber, brings the liquor in a little bottle and covers it or rather 



ALLIED SOVEREIGNS— QUEEN VICTORIA. 49 

by Phillips, at present in the Library. The Russian 
attendants in the train of the Czar are yet spoken of 
by townsmen, who recollect their grotesque ap- 
pearance and the circumstance of their evincing a 
partiality for oil by drinking it from any lamps, 
which they were so fortunate as to meet with, as 
well as devouring the soap placed in their bedrooms. 

The last Royal visit was that of her present 
Majesty Queen Victoria, who with Prince Albert in 
an open carriage ; as the writer witnessed, entered 
Petworth about noon, on December 3rd, 1846. She 
came to Petworth House from Arundel Castle. 

We have already adverted to the licence to em- 
battle the residence here of Henry de Perci, Lord of 
Petworth in 1309. That there was a Castle existing 
at Petworth as late as the reign of Queen Elizabeth 
appears from a MS. still preserved at Oxford,* in 

hides it with a salver, upon which he pours out what he tastes, 
near as much as what we call a supernaculum. Then the King 
pours out what he pleases, which is commonly a glass tumbler full 
and drinks it off. The disposition of his bread is as singular as 
anything else ; for it is broke into very small manmocks, laid upon 
a plate covered with a napkin, and places it on his left hand, from 
whence he takes bit by bit, but keeps it always covered ; I could 
not learn whether this was custom or superstition ; and here it 
may not be improper to tell you that I believe he has an aversion 
for dogs, because I observed one of his noblemen take up a dog 
whilst the King supped, and with great caution and secrecy convey 
it out of the room. His Catholic Majesty speaks very little, what 

he said to the Prince was in high Dutch, to others in French 

The Counts of Thun and Zingendorf are his Kamer Heeren or 
Lords of the Bed Chamber, and served him alternately as carver 
and cupbearer at Petworth, &c." Charles King of Spain was after- 
wards the Emperor Charles VI., he came to Petworth Dec. 28th, 
and again on his return from Portsmouth, Dec. 31st, 1703. 
* S. A. C. ix. 107. 



50 ' PETWOKTH. 

which the following fees are mentioned, under the 
heading,*— Petworth. 

To the— £ s. d. 

Constable of the Castle 22 16 6 

Keeper of the House 2 

Ditto of the Park 3 10 

Master of the Game there 18 2 6 

By whom the first house was built after this 
krenellated building had been abandoned, is not 
known. After the purchase of Alnwick the northern 
residences of the Earls of Northumberland were 
there, and at Wressil and Warkworth ; but it is on 
record * that Henry Perci, the 8th Earl turned his 
attention to his residence at Petworth in 1576, and 
was the first to repair and enlarge it. From an 
elaborately finished water-colour drawing of old Pet- 
worth House t it is also apparent that the present 
mansion occupies the same, or very nearly the same 
site, although it possesses a far more extended front, 
commanding a western aspect. 

Old Petworth House consisted of two wings at 

* In the parish Register is this memorandum, "Henry Percy, 
Earl of Northumberland in 1577, began to repair the Honor 
(mansion-house) of Petteworthe, and also to make his new work of 
building the same Honor to his great charge, and brought the 
water into every office of the said house." The sums expended are 
stated in the Burrell MSS. in the British Museum, extracted from 
the Petworth Muniments. Notes* of a survey in 1580. "The house 
was begun in 1576. Expended £2,829 16s. Total to 1592, 
£4,126 9s. 8d." 

f In the Petworth copy of the Northumberland Household 
Book, taken from a picture in Sion House. There is an engraving 
of it in 8. A. C. xiv. 



OLD PETWORTH HOUSE. 51 

Tight angles to each other facing to the west and 
south. The stables were immediatly in front of it, 
on a spot now covered by the waters of the great 
pond. The space between was laid out in the style 
of the time with long, straight gravel walks, low walls 
and terraces, parterres, and clipped shrubs. The 
stables and riding house were quadrangular and of 
unusual dimensions, Fuller speaking of them, says, 
"Petworth, the house of the Earls of Northumberland 
is most famous for a stately stable, the best of any sub- 
jects in Christendom, as it affords stabling in state for 
threescore horses with all necessary accommodation." 
It was customary in the border counties to have 
stables of vast extent, as Sir W. Scott's lines remind us, 
"Thirty steeds both fleet and wight 
Stood saddled in stable day and night, 
Barbed with frontlet of steel I trow 
And with Jedwood axe at saddle bow, 
A hundred more fed free in stall, 
Such was the custom of Branksome Hall." 
Although at Petworth there was no need of like 
hostile preparation, yet in erecting such stables here, 
northern predilections may have been followed. 

The 9th Earl made many additions to the old 
house, and had indeed, during his incarceration in 
the Tower designed an entirely new and magnificent 
Mansion;* but was probably prevented from puttiug 

# Among the Petworth Muniments is a large roll of vellum, 
upon which is a plan architecturally laid down, with M S. remarks 



52 PETWORTH. 

his plan into execution by the heavy fine imposed upon 
him by the Star Chamber. The last remaining tower 
of this house was taken down by the father of the 
late Earl of Egremont. * The present wine and beer 
cellars were a part of the old building. Dr. Turner 
in his account of Petworth in the Sussex Archaeo- 
logical Society's Collections gives their dimensions^ 
and in referring to the beer department of this vast 
depository, proves the excellency of the cheer pro- 
vided at Petworth in the olden time by quoting 
Bramstone the West Sussex Poet, 

"When the duke's grandson for the county stood 
His beef was fat, and his October good." 

Dodsley's Collection, vol. I., p. 270. 

On the Duke of Somerset's coming into possession 
of the Petworth estate, he began to take down the 
old house and to build the present palatial mansion, J 
the front § of which is 322 feet in length, and its 
height to the roof-parapet 62 feet. || The Chapel 



by the Earl, 1615, five years before his release. The ground plan 
is for an open square 325 feet by 280 and containing a gallery to be 
322 by 28 feet. 

* The courtyard was removed by the second Earl. During 
very dry and protracted summers, the grass extends in parched 
lines above the spot. 

t S. A. C. xiv. i. 

j "Petworth, for a subject's palace, may not easily be match- 
ed." Quart. Rev. July 1862. Art. Sussex. 

§ Walpole wrote, "The house is entirely new fronted in the 
style of the Tuileries, and furnished exactly like Hampton Court," 
Letters I. 217. 

|| It is built of freestone, with the centre arch of Portland 
stone as well as the casing of the windows, of which there are 
twenty one in each of the three stories. 







lip- 







INTERIOR OF PETWORTH HOUSE. 53 

*is the only part of the old edifice, which the duke 
preserved. The roof of Petworth House was original- 
ly higher in the centre than at the ends, having been 
carried up in the form of a truncated pyramid, which 
was surrounded by statues, this was removed by the 
late Earl, so as to reduce it to a uniform level. 

To describe the interior of Petworth House at 
length ; its wondrous wood carvings and its splendid 
collection of pictures exceeding six hundred in num- 
ber by more than two hundred painters, — scarcely an 
artist of name being unrepresented, would be plainly 
beyond the compass of this little work, and yet an 
account of Petworth without a brief notice of these 
art-treasures, would be, — to borrow a comparison, 
like the play of Hamlet, with the part of Hamlet 
omitted. A recent writer f speaks of them most 
enthusiastically " Princely Petworth, the home of the 
Percies, Seymours and Wyndhams, with its antique 
marbles, { choice Gibbons wood carvings, and Hot- 
spur's sword : the real glory of Petworth however is 

* The chapel was formerly detached from the house. The walls 
and windows are ornamented with the arms and devices of the 
Percies and their kinsmen. It had cloisters on the north side 
which were converted into a sculpture gallery by Charles Earl of 
Egremont. By building a second gallery, parallel to this and 
making some alterations, the late Earl completed the North Gallery 
as it now stands. Sydney in his Letters of State speaks of "the 
cloister chambers;" the apartment called the "Red Room" pro- 
bably occupies the space which included them. 

t Quart. Rev. July 1862. 

% This collection which is a large one, was originally formed 
at Rome for Charles Earl of Egremont 5 additions were made by 
the late Earl. 



54 PETWOKTH. 

its vast and superb collection of pictures. * Here is 
one of the finest Claudes in the world, and some 
remarkable landscapes by Turner, Claude's great 
modern rival. Probably no house in England can 
boast of more genuine portraits by Vandyck, famous 
men and noble ladies, in whose all but living pre- 
sence we are carried back to the days of cavalier 
plumes and perfumed love locks." The many mas- 
terpieces of Holbein and especially his magnificent 
portrait of Henry VIII., painted about 1540, should 
also have been mentioned. The entrance hall and 
grand staircase with the ceiling above are embellished 
by Louis la Guerre with the story of Pandora and 
Prometheus in its details, with the exception of the 
right hand wall where the Duchess of Somerset 
(Lady Elizabeth Percy, the heiress) appears on a 
triumphal car, surrounded by her daughters. The 
square dining room f at the back of the house con- 

* A description of the pictures in Petworth House is to be 
found in Murray's Hand Book (Sussex,) and in Waagen's Art 
Treasures of Great Britain. A list of the whole was made for the 
late Bector, by the writer, when a boy, who has often stood, as it 
were spell bound, before many of them. The following is a selection 
of a few most worthy of notice. 

f Philip II, of Spain : Sir Antonio More. Catherina Cornaro, 
Queen of Cyprus : Titian. Titian's daughter Lavinia holding a 
kitten : Titian. Portrait of himself : Tintoretto. A boy in a brown 
dress: Titian. Queen Catherine Parr : Holbein. Duke of Brabant 
and his daughter Bega, traditional founder of the Beguines : 
Jordaens. Holy Family and Angels : Andrea del Sarto. Giovanni 
Calvi : Vansomer. Virgin and Child : Sir J. Reynolds. Oliver 
Cormwell : Walker. Eight portraits by VandycTc, and Grand Land- 
scape, Jacob and Laban : Claude. "In point of size, freshness of 
the silvery morning tones, carefulness of execution and delicacy of 



PICTURES. 55 

tains some of the most valuable pictures. The front 
consists of a suite of nine rooms looking into the 
park, named respectively, "the old library" at the 
south end, next to which is the "new library;"* then 
"the white and gold room,"f from which we pass to 
the "beauty room," J so called from containing the 
portraits of several ladies in the court of Queen 
Anne, remarkable for their beauty, and thence to the 
"marble hall;"§ to the north of these are the "ante 
room to the carved room," || "the carved room," 

gradations one of the most important works of the middle period 
of this master." (Waagen.) 

* Infant Hercules: A. Caracci. Giving bread to the hungry: 
Teniers. Early christians giving instruction : Pasqualino. Queen 
Anne: Kneller. Holy Family: Correggio. Eight pictures by 
Elsheimer, extremely rare. Charles King of Spain : Kneller. 
Newmarket Heath. The Duke of Somerset's horse "Grey Wynd- 
ham" has just beaten the Duke of Devonshire's "Cricket." The 
Duke of Somerset with his hat off is speaking to the Duke of 
Cumberland, Wootten. Visit of the Allied Sovereigns : Phillips. 

t Five portraits of ladies by Vandych, Lady Ann Carr, Lady 
Dorothy Percy ; Lady Lucy Percy ; Lady Elizabeth Cecil ; Lady 
Dorothy Sidney. Charles II., saluting Lady M. Bellenden from 
"Old Mortality :" Leslie. The Countess of Carlisle bringing the 
pardon to her father the ninth Earl of Northumberland : Leslie. 
A Landscape : Cuyp. 

% The Countess of Portland ; Duchess of Ormond ; Duchess 
of Devonshire ; Lady Longueville j Countess of Carlisle ; Countess 
of Pembroke; and Lady Howe, all by Dahl. The Duchess of 
Marlborough : Kneller. Louis XIV. : Vandermeulen. A Dutch 
Canal: Cuyp. 

§ Portrait of himself: VandycJc. Eembrandt's wife: Rem' 
hrandt. Three portraits : Holbein. Cervantes : Yelasquez. A 
Lady : Rubens. Head of a youth : Rronzino. A musical party : 
Guercino. Marshal Turenne : Frank Hals. A ferry : Cuyp. 
The 3rd Duke of Urbino : Raffaelle. Cardinal de Medici, Titian. 
Macpherson 5 Lord North ; Lady Thomond : Reynolds. A lady 
holding her gloves : M . Gerard. Mrs. Woffington, the actress ; 
Hogarth. 

|| Sir Isaac Newton : Kneller. Sir Edward Coke : Jansen. 
Portrait of Lord Leconfield ; Grant. Sketch for "the preaching 



56 PETWORTH. 

*60ft. by 24, and 20 ft. high, of which the walla 
and cornices are almost covered with the most delicate 
and elaborate wood carvings. Even before its com- 
pletion this room was a marvel. Walpole, after 
seeing it in Aug. 1749, says, "it is flounced all round, 
whole length pictures, with much the finest carving 
of Gibbons that ever my eyes beheld. There are 
birds absolutely feathered, and two antique vases, 
with bas relieves, as perfect and beautiful, as if they 
were carved by a Grecian master."f 

Writing of Gibbons again, says the same con- 
noisseur, "the most superb monument of his skill is a 
large apartment at Petworth, enriched from the ceil- 
ing, between the pictures, with festoons of flowers 
and dead game, all in the highest state of perfection 
and preservation. One vase surpassed all the others 
in execution and elegance of design, being covered 
with a bas-relief of the purest taste. Selden, one of 

of Knox" : WilJcie. A nobleman at prayers, and pilgrims : Yan 
Uyck. Semiramis : Guereino. John Marquis of Grranby : Reynolds, 

* Henry VIII. : Holbein. Anne Boleyn, (a copy); Lord and 
Lady Seymour, of Trowbridge: Jansen. Four Landscapes by 
Turner: Chichester Canal; Petworth Park? Brighton from the' 
Sea ; The lake in Petworth Park. Falstaff relating his adventure 
at Gadshill ; Sir Toby and Malvolio : Clint, and by the same artist 
portraits of G-rinling Gibbons and Jonathan Eitson the carvers ;: 
both native artists^ from whose work the room derives its name. 
The former, who died 1721, was the most celebrated wood carver 
of his time ; the latter who was scarcely, if at all inferior, during' 
nineteen years, employed his talent on this room, and having com- 
pleted it died in 1846. The writer frequently saw him at his work. 
His intemperate habits prevented his attaining to greater eminence j 
despite his genius, but for the liberality of the present owner of 
Petworth House, he would have died in penury. 

t Horace Walpole' s Letters 1. 217. 



NORTH aALLERY. 57 

his disciples — for what simple hand could have 
executed such plenty of laborious productions, — lost 
his life in saving this carving when the house was 
on fire." 

The Eed room* previously mentioned, the North 
gallery f and the Duke of Somerset's room,:}: contain 
pictures of much interest. In the Audit room are 

* The wise men's offerings : Albert Durer. Banditti attacking 
Travellers ; Louis XIY. and the Dauphin at Lisle : Vandermeulen. 
A thunderstorm at Sea : De Vleiger. William III. at the Battle 
of the Boyne: Dirk Maas. Spendid Landscape: Cuyp. Two 
Bishops kneeling: Rubens. Countess of Egremont : Gainsborough. 
Several portraits : Vandyck. Ralph, Lord Hopton ; and Ludowick 
Stuart, Duke of Richmond : Vansomer. A Lady in black : Rem- 
brandt* ARher Scene, Moonlight: Vander Neer. Three portraits : 
Reynolds. An Admiral, said to be Yan Tromp : Van der Heist. 

t In the North Grallery is a collection of antique and modern- 
sculptures including Elaxman's colossal group, the Archangel 
Michael piercing Satan. The pictures are chiefly English — The 
Thames and Windsor Castle ; The Thames and Weybridge ; Scene 
at Tabley; The Thame3 near Windsor, men dragging a net to 
shore. An Evening Scene, pond surrounded by willows, with 
cattle drinking and men stripping osiers ; Echo and Narcissus ; 
Jessica ; Sea Yiew, Indiaman and Man- of- War : Turner. Land- 
scape, Shepherd and Shepherdess, and another with cows and 
sheep : (Gainsborough. Rydal Water : Copley Fielding. Witches 
and Caldron (Macbeth) : Reynolds. Invention of Music : Barry. 
Children of Charles I., Lely. A stormy sea, Callcott. Yenus and 
Cupid, and Yertumnus and Pomona, Hoppner. Death of Cardinal 
Beaufort, Reynolds. Still water with a rock and castle, Wilson. 
Sancho and the Duchess ; and The presentation of Gulliver to the 
Queen of Brobdignag, Leslie. Lion Hunt, Northcote. The Con- 
noisseurs' Quarrel, Hogarth. Musidora, Opie. Edwin, (Beattie), 
Westall. Rape of Europa, Hilton. Mirth and Melancholy, 
Romney. Herodias with the head of John the Baptist, Fuseli. 
Kitty Fisher, Reynolds. Storm on the Alps, with avalanche, 
Loutherbourg, and many others. 

X Card Players, Q. Matsys. Two Landscapes, Hobbema. 
Sea shore with buildings, with the effect of the clearest morning 
light, Claude. Prince Rupert, Varelst. Boor's Drinking, Teniers. 
Edward YI. under a canopy, 1547, Holbein. Landscape, G. 
Poussin. A man with a letter, Titian. An old man in a chair, 



58 PETWOETH. 

many cattle pieces and portraits of celebrated horses, 
by eminent masters, and in the up-stairs apartments, 
numerous pictures of less importance are arranged. 
A manuscript of much archaeological interest pre- 
served in the library must also be reckoned among 
the treasures of this mansion. It is a beautifully 
illuminated copy of Chaucer. On the last page are 
these words, "Here endeth the Booke of the Talys 
of Canterbury compiled by Geofrey Chaucer, on 
whose soul Jesu Crist have mercy." By the Arms 
of Perci emblazoned beneath with certain quarter- 
ings, similar to those contained in the arms on the 
garter plate of Henry Perci, fourth Earl, who was 
installed knight of the garter in 1471 ; it appears 
that this splendid and costly MS. was executed for 
that nobleman towards the end of the fifteenth cen- 
tury* 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Church — Puritan proceedings — The Eegister — Eectors. 

Is this the hill? Is this the kirk ? 

Is this mine own countree? — Coleridge* 

The northern escarpment of the South Downs is 
by far the sharper, consequently he who passes from 
the south coast into the weald of Sussex, by way of 

Vander Maas. Brughel, VandycTc. A man filling his pipe, 
Teniers. Portrait of Yan Yoorhout, F. Hals. Mouth of a cavern. 
Old Teniers. The Archduke Leopold, with an ecclesiastic and the 
painter in the picture gallery at Brussels. Tenters, 
* 8. A. C. XY. 234. 




- 



' -';'".'-. ■ • 



THE CHURCH. 59 

Cocking, Duncton, or Bury Hill, on arriving at the 
summit has a more comprehensive view than the 
traveller from the opposite direction, and is enchant- 
ed by the wide spread prospect before him. Sup- 
posing a person to be on Duncton Hill and looking 
in the direction of the weald his attention soon fixes 
itself on the spire of Petworth Church, 180 feet 
high ; erected by the late Earl of Egremont, after 
a design by Sir Charles Barry, when at a cost of 
£15,000, his Lordship, with his usual munificence, 
almost entirely rebuilt the Church in 1827. 

The entry in Domesday proves that there was a 
church here in Saxon times, and although the older 
part* of the present edifice is of late date (early per- 
pendicular) yet doubtless Petworth has not been 
destitute of a church from that period until now. 
I have been able, indeed, to find a reference to the 
most interesting portion of Petworth Church; the 
large N. Chancel or Chantry, which shews that it 
was dedicated to St. Thomas of Canterbury, as early 
as the reign of Henry II. The Church itself is 
dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin.f 

No single event created a greater enthusiasm in 

* The S. Windows of the Chancel, however, are early decorated, 
as Hussey had observed, he notes also that the church has been so 
greatly altered by modern repairs that the old work is generally 
concealed. Churches of Sussex 264. 

t A fountain whose clear waters, deliciously cool, gush from 
the side of a hill below the town, is still called the Virgin Mary's 
Spring, they were probably once deemed to possess a healing virtue. 
The beauty of its approach still renders the walk to it attractive. 



60 PETWORTH. 

the religions mind in England, during the middle 
ages than the murder of Thomas a Becket (Dec. 29, 
1170). Within a few years he was venerated as a 
saint and a martyr, not only throughout this country ; 
but in all Europe, and even in the East, and pil- 
grimages to his shrine became general ; in the words 
of Chaucer, 

"from every schire's end 
of Engelond to Canturbere they wend." 
Before the commencement of the next reign the 
chapel had been founded at Petworth which still 
bears his name, for in the Great Roll of the Pipe* of 
I Bic. i. it is assessed as follows "Capelle Beati 
Tom. xviii. s. in Pedewurda." Down to the Refor- 
mation it appears that the chapel of Thomas a Becket 
was mentioned in connexion with the Church in old 
wills ; and that in the Church itself there were at 
least two shrines to the Virgin, since "William Wite 
of Petworth, 30th August 1518, leaves to the light 
of Out Lady of Pity, within the said church 4d., 
item to the tabernacle of Our Lady of Assumption, 
in the said Church 12d," John Tredcroft, of Pet- 
worth, 24th August 1520, bequeaths his "body, &c, 
to the Church of Petworth, before the Image of St. 
Katherine, before Saynt Thomas* Chapel dore; to 
the reparayers of the Church of Petworth, 6s. 8d., 
also to the brotherhood of Corpus Christi, 6s. 8d." 

* ed. Hunter, p. 214, and again at p. 215. "Capelle Beatj 
Tom. xii. s. In Pedewrth." 



CHAPEL OF THOMAS a BECKET. 61 

similarly "James Goble of Petworth, 20th Oct. 1523, 
— my body &c. in the parish church of Our Blessed 
Lady of Petworth"* 

The chapel of St. Thomas a Becket is supposed 
to have belonged originally to the Dawtrey f family, 
— de hault Rey, or de Alta Kipa, mentioned in the 
Pipe Roll, just quoted. A moiety of it was however 
made over to the Earls of Northumberland in 1624, % 
and Leland evidently refers to it when he says, "yn 
the chyrche of Petteworth ly buryed sum of Percy's 
children ; but none of the Lords f* we have already 
mentioned that three of the Earls have since been in- 
terred there. Brasses to them and to several count- 
esses, with other members of the family, remain on 
the floor. The vestry, taken from it, has diminished 
the size of this chancel. The late Earl of Egremont 
(1837) erected a memorial in it, in his old age, — Mor- 
tuis Moriturus, to some of the members of the house of 
Perci, this is by Carew. There is also in the chapel a 
fine statue of his lordship, in a sitting posture by Baily, 
R. A. in which a striking resemblance is traceable. 

* S. A. C. xii. 95. I find also, John Wiltshire de Petworth 
leaves his soul to God, and his body to be buried in the Church of 
the Blessed Mary of Petworth. Meg. Sherburne, fo. 129. b. 

+ "Here lyith also certain of the Dautereis whos names in 
Latine be there wryten de Alta Eipa." (Leland.) On the N. wall 
of the chapel are two ancient table tombs, one of Purbeck marble 
defaced ; the other of Caen stone canopied, has two effigies kneeling 
before desks, and beneath, the arms of the family (azure, 5 fusils in 
fess argent). This, which was erected to Sir John Dawtrey, cb. 1527, 
is surmounted by a helmet, and has traces of the original colouring. 

% That the Earls of [Northumberland possessed a portion of 
this Chapel, at a very early period, is probable ; that they had the 
right of interment there, long before this date, is certain. 



62 PETWORTH. 

The Church itself was a cruciform structure, the 
Perci chapel forming the north aisle. The north 
transept was rebuilt by Henry Earl of Northumber- 
land, when he made Petworth one of the principal 
residences of his fjamily. The opposite transept is 
occupied by the Tower, and it may here be men- 
tioned that there was a spire upon it, even in Pre- 
Peformation times, as we are also informed by 
Leland ; Chaplain and Antiquary-Koyal to Henry 
VIII. "One Parson Aeon," he tells us "builded the 
spire of the f aire steeple* there. This was a leaden 
spire and long continued out of the perpendicular ; 
hence the country people of the vicinity, either proud 
themselves or envious of the townsmen, used to 
quote the doggrel, 

"Proud Petworth; poor people, 
High Church; crooked steeple." 
This leaden spire was taken down in 1800 and the 
tower finished off with pinnacles, in which state it 
remained until the restoration! of the church and the 
building of the present spire. 

Pew facts in connection with Petworth Church 
are known during the mediaeval period.J In the 

* 1630. This yeare the steeple was repayred, the charge wherof 
was fowerscore poundes and upwards. Petworth Reg. ad ann. 

f The stained windows were then inserted by the Earl of Egre- 
mont. The Organ was presented by him, at a cost of £600, in 1812. 

J The following notice of a visitation in 1478, was kindly 
communicated to me by the Eev. Mackenzie Walcot, Precentor of 
Chichester, who met with it while searching the Episcopal Registers. 
"Die sabbati yisitabit, hora tercia post nonam in Ecclesia de Pet- 



THE KEGISTER. 63 

subsidy to Richard II. (1380,) the church of Pette- 
worth paid 7 marks. Richard Dover was then 
chaplain of Petteworth.* Its history however may 
be read in later times, in the biographies of the 
incumbents. 

In the nave and chancel, which are large and 
well adapted for the requirements of an extensive 
parish, and a numerous population, there are some 
interesting brasses and monuments f to several of the 
Rectors, amongst which that to Dr. Wickens is 
noticeable, as one of the earliest works of Flaxman. 

The Register commences in 1559. J Many of the 
entries, made during the struggle between King and 
Parliament, shew that Petworth was evidently of 
Puritan tendencies. Algernon, tenth Earl of North- 
umberland was, as we have seen, a Parliamentarian, 
and Cheynell whom the Parliament appointed Rector 
of Petworth in the place of Dr. King, was, as is well 
known, one of the most energetic and fanatical of the 

worth ipsam et reliquam partem decanatus de Midhirste et apud 
Prioratum de Haryngham pernoctabit." Reg. Story, fo. 13. Ease- 
bourne Priory was to be first visited, Petworth after dinner. 

* S. A. C. v. 229. 

f Under the south wall of the Chancel is an ancient coffin 
shaped slab, supported by a broken portion of a pinnacle. This 
appears to be the oldest sepulchral monument connected with the 
Church, from the interior of which it was removed. The inscrip- 
tion round the margin in the Longobardic character, is now partly 
indecipherable. It appears to be "Hie jacet Johannes Maunder 
cujus animoB propitietuv Deus." "John Maudesley (evidently 
Maunder), says Dallaway, was probably a Eector about the close of 
the 13th century, at which period the usage of the Longobardic 
character ceased in England." 

X Clearly transcribed 1639. 



64 PETWORTH. 

Puritan Divines. An exception however must be 
mentioned in Oliver Whitby, Curate to Dr. King, 
Bishop of Chichester, of whom Walker {Sufferings of 
the Clergy) relates that "being a royalist he was often 
in danger of his life by the fanatics, one of whom 
shot at him as he was preaching in Petworth pulpit ; 
but missed him, upon which to avoid further danger 
he escaped to a poor house nigh Petworth, and lived 
there six months privately ; but being discovered by 
the rebels he was forced to take his lodging several 
days in a hollow tree, which the old woman (of the 
poor house) had shewn him and was there fed by 
her a long time on pretence of her going to get 
wood, he lived in great want till the Eestoration and 
was then preferred in Chichester Church * 

The most remarkable entry in the Register is 
Cheynell's Symbolum or Confession of Faith,f which 
occupies two folio pages. 

Baptisms. Grace y e daughter of Francis and 
Grace Cheynell was upon the 18th of November 
1646, about 12 of y e clock at night, brought into the 
world, and upon the 22nd of y e same moneth incor- 
porated into y e visible Church of Christ by holy 
Baptisme. 

* Canon Kes. His son Oliver Whitby, of Chichester, Gent, 
founded the school there which bears his name, and has been of 
permanent benefit to the city. 

t This very interesting document I had previously contri- 
buted to the Gentleman's Magazine, March, 1864. It is there 
printed in full. 



CHEYNELL'S SYMBOLUM. G5 

Franciscus Cheynell pro re nata Symbolum sub- 
sertum exaravit animamque transcripsit. 

The Symbolum which follows consists of eighteen 
articles, and is signed by Cheynell, his wife, and 
several of the parishioners. 

The baptisms of two other of his children are 
recorded : — 

1650, Feb. 8. Frances [i. e. daughter] of Francis 
Chanelle, Doctour and Eector of Pettworth. 

1651. Hannah filia, Francisci Cheynell. Hujus 
eccles, rectoris. July 8. 

Publicacions of Marriages in the Markett Place 
of Pettworth, Ano. Dmi. 1654,* end 1658. 

From 1677, as in other Registers, there are burials 
"in sheepes woollen only, according to the act," i. e. 
for the encouragement of the woollen manufacture, 
these entries are here however very numerous. 

The following interments of distinguished per- 
sons occur :— 

1579. Dec. 24. Sir William Farms. 1568. June 14. Mr. Antony 
Lewknor. 1591. Mr. Nycko. Smith, Eector. 1597. May 31. 
Henry Lord Percy. 1619. August. Dorothie, that thrice honora- 
ble and right vertuous Lady the Countes of Northumberland, her 
corps was interred in the ckappell on the 14th of thi3 month. 
1632. November 6. The thrice noble Henry Earle of Nortkumber- 

* Tke first is given e. g. Francis Morley and Elizabeth Sheap- 
heard both ot the pish of Fittlewortk were lawfully published three 
Markett Dayes in the Markett place aforesaid (next) July the 
fifteenth, two and twentieth and twenty ninth, according to the 
Act of Parliament in that case made and guided. They were 
marryed by Certifycate from Stephen Humphry, Esq., Justice of 
the Peace, of tkis County. 



66 PETWOETH. 

land. 1654. December. Memorandum, that upon the 7th day was 
interred Ann Lady Stanhope, daughter of Algernon Percy, Earl of 
Northumberland. Item, the same day, and year abovesaid was 
interred Algernon, son of the Lord Philip Stanhope. 1660. Buried 
the Eight Hon. the Countess of Carlyell, daughter to the Eight 
Hon. Henry Lord Percy, Earl of Northumberland. "Nov, 21. 
1668. The Eight Hon. Algernoun Earle of Northumberland died 
October 18, and was buried Nov. 4, 1670. July the 14th was 
buried Joshlin Percy, the Hon. Earl of Northumberland, 1680. 
November the 16th was buried the Eight Hon. Henry Percy, Earl 
of Ogle, heire apparent to his Grace William Duke of Newcastle. 
1689. May. The Lord Edward buried in linen the 27th. 

During a short period, in the 18th century, to the 

names of those buried are attached the diseases, real 

or imagined, of which they died. 

The subjoined mortuary records are somewhat 

singular. 

1603. Jan. 23. William Pearse, the first that dyed of the plague. 

1604. June 28. Alice uxor Mtri Boache, the last that dyed of the 
plague. 1741. Oct. 25. Eichard Boot, a Vagabond. 1746. Sep. 
16. Thomas White, a beggar's child. 1747. Mar. 27. William 
Middleton, a Dragoon in Lord Cobham's Eegiment. 1754. Sep. 
9. Thomas Owen, my Lord's Brewer was buried. 1757. Dec. 27, 
John Smith, a Leveler, was buried. 1763. Jan. 21. Elizabeth 
Nash, (distracted) was buried. 1766. Feb. 11. Eichard Betts- 
worth, killed by a Wagon, buried. 1771. April 13. Charles 
Button, a Vagrant Tinker, buried. 1776. Dec. 31. John Balchin, 
drowned in y e small pox. 

"On the fly leaf at the end of Reg. I. are entries 
of Certificates for his Maiesties (Charles II.) Sacred 
Touch ordered to be registered March 24. 168f." 
Ann the daughter of Thomas Eice. 
Alice the daughter of Henry and Ann Mills. 



THE KING'S TOUCH. 67 

Ann the daughter of Henry and Ann Mills. 

James Spencer, these had certificates March y e 24th, 83. 
Certificat given for James son of William Peachey Esq., January 
y e 20th, 1685. Certificat given for Henry Challen, March 27, 
1686, and others to the number of more than thirty. 

The benefit received from the Royal hand is not 
recorded. 

Among the incumbents of Petworth,* there has 
been a greater number of men, eminent from their 
literary acquirements, subsequent advancement to 
ecclesiastical dignities, or connexion with important 
events in English History, than perhaps any other 
parish in Sussex can reckon. Commencing at the 
15th century, a list of them and of their respective 
patrons is as follows. 

* The "Benefice is a rectory, formerly of very great extent, as 
it contained the chapelries of Duncton and Northchapel, now de- 
tached from it. In Pope Nicholas's Valor it stands at £46 : 13 : 4; 
in the Nonse Roll (temp. Edward III.) without the rector's glebe 
and manor, 20 marcs ; and in the King's Books £41 : 10 : 5. 
Present value £856. Of the glebe there are about 156 acres. 
The advowson was not severed from the manor of Petworth, until 
the attainder of the Earl of Northumberland, after the battle of 
Shrewsbury. Henry VI. upon the foundation of Eton College 
included it in the endownment. In 1693 Charles Duke of Somerset 
obtained it from the College in exchange for Farnham Royal, 
Clewer and Worplesdon. Under the Act, 5 William and Mary, 
Duncton and Northchapel were constituted separate Rectories. 

The Rectory House was built by Montague and Duppa, succes- 
sively Bishops of Chichester, between the years 1623 & 1641, and 
by several additions since made has become a large building. The 
Rev. T. Sockett, says Dallaway, in 1819, "has made great im- 
provements both in the house and spacious gardens. From the 
terrace 130 yards in length, there is a beautiful home view, with 
the Surrey hills in the northern distance." 



68 





PETWORTH. 






Rectors. 


Patrons. 




Thomas Dulaby 




1404. 


John Burton, - - - - 


Henry Earl of 




Northumberland 


1445. 


William Baker, - - - 


Eton College. 


1485. 


Thomas Stevenson, - - 


99 


1496. 


John Edmund, D. D. * - 


99 


1531. 


Thomas Mandeville, or 7 
Maundsfield, B. D. 3 






ft 


1560. 


Nicholas Smyth, M. A.f - 


99 


1591. 


Alexander Bownde, D. D.J 


?> 


1623. 


Richard Montague, D. D.§ 


»> 


1638. 


Brian Duppa, D. D.|| - - 


The King. 



* He brought the water to supply the town. Leland. He 
resigned and had a pension of £30 per annum for life out of the 
rectory, confirmed under the seals of Bishop Sherburne and Eton 
College. 

t Fellow of Winchester College and Bursar of Eton College, 
"Rector per triginta annos, ob. 1591." Inscription on brass, 

X A painful pastor of this church of Petworth for the space 
of thirty years, ob. 1622. Brass. 

§ Dr. Montague was elected Bishop of Chichester July 14. 
1628, and had a dispensation to hold Petworth in conmendam as 
long as he continued Bishop of Chichester, (as did the next two 
Rectors) this practice is deservedly condemned by Lord Hobart as 
most injurious. He was translated to Norwich, 1638. He wrote 
a tract entitled Appello Ccesarem, on which Pym reported in 1626, 
and the House of Commons resolved "That Mr. Montague endea- 
voured to reconcile England to Rome, and alienate the king's 
affection from his well effected subjects." 

|j Duppa was successively Bishop of Chichester (1638), Salis- 
bury (1641), and Winchester (1660), after having been chaplain to 
Charles I. and tutor to the Princes Charles and James. He was 
with Charles I. at the surrender of Cxford, and remained in solitude 
at Richmond till the Restoration. On an almshouse which he 
afterwards founded there, this inscription still remains over the 
gate, "I will pay ray vows which I made to Grod in my trouble." 



KINO.— CHEYNELL. 69 

Rectors. Patrons. 

J641. Henry King, D. D* - - The King. 
1643. Francis Cheynell, D. D.f The Parliament. 

* An account of this Bishop of Chichester (son of John King, 
Bishop of London, James the First's "King of Preachers") is to 
be found in Godwin de Prcesulibus, and A. Wood, Athence Oxon. 
Hi. 839. He was himself an eminent preacher, and chaplain in 
ordinary to James I. Deprived of Petworth by the Parliament, he 
was reinstated to this rectory 1660. His tract entitled "A deep 
Groan fetch' d at the Funeral of the incomparable and glorious 
monarch King Charles I.," was printed 1649. As a poet he enjoy- 
ed considerable reputation : his poems have been recently collected 
and edited. London 1843. Bishop King was buried in Chichester 
Cathedral, where before the fall of its spire, his tomb was to be 
seen at the back of the choir screen. 

t Calamy tells us that Cheynell "long resided at Petworth 
and was very assiduous in his ministry there." He is better known 
as one of the Westminster Assembly of Divines in 1643. Being 
most zealous and active in the cause of the Parliament he was ap- 
pointed one of the seven preachers "having power to preach in any 
church in Oxford." Hot headed and disputatious, he was fore- 
most in every controversy there, the Puritans "could do nothing 
without Cheynell." A. Wood says that he was of "a fiery face" 
and gives an example of his fiery disposition, — While visitor at 
Oxford, seeing a scholar going out of St. Mary's door wearing a hat 
with a ribbon in it, embroidered with a royalist device, obnoxious 
to him "he did with great fury snatch the hat irom his head, pull 
the ribbon thence with disdain, tear or cut it in pieces and threw 
to the scholar his hat again." He attended the army of the Earl 
of Essex, and obtained the rectory of Petworth for his services to 
the Commons. He was a most popular preacher with the House. 
A Sermon entitled "The Man of Honour, preached before the 
Lords of Parliament in the Abbey Church at Westminster, March 
26. 1645, the Solemn day of the Publique Monethly Fast, by 
Francis Cheynell, Minister of God's Word," was ordered to be 
printed and the thanks of the House given to Master Cheynell for 
his great pains. An examination of Cheynell' s writings shews that 
he was an able man, and of extensive reading. As the opponent of 
Laud, Hammond & Chilling worth, Dr. Johnson in his biography 
of him observes "that his memory would not have been preserved, 
had he not, by being conjoined with illustrious names, become the 
object of public curiosity." He was however one of the most 
energetic and prominent men of his party, and this criticism is 
somewhat too severe, if we try to consider him dispassionately. 
One blot notwithstanding will necessarily ever stain his character, — « 



70 PETWORTH. 

Rectors. Patrons. 

1660. Henry King, D. D. - - (reinstated). 

1669. John Price, D. D.* - - Eton College. 
1691. Edward Pelling, D. D.f - „ 



his virulent persecution of Chillingworth to and beyond the death. 
In his "Chillingworthi Novissima" he displays his own fanaticism. 
The terrible coldness of the season had compelled Chillingworth 
to seek shelter in Arundel Castle, from which, on the castle's being 
taken, he was removed to the bishop's palace Chichester, where he 
died. Cheynell attended him constantly during his illness, but at 
the burial in the cloisters at Chichester, he met the corpse, having 
in his hands Chillingworth' s famous work "The religion of Pro- 
testants" and threw it into the grave with the dead body, saying 
"Get thee gone, thou cursed book, which has seduced so many 
precious souls : get thee gone thou corrupt rotten book : earth to 
earth, and dust to dust : get thee gone into the place of rotten- 
ness, that thou may est rot with thy author and see corruption." 
Cheynell is said to have died at Preston, Sussex, 1665, disordered 
in his understanding. 

* It is asserted that General Monk's plan of the restoration 
of Charles II. was communicated to none but to Dr. Barrow his 
physician, and to Mr. John Price his chaplain ; this circumstance 
is alluded to on the brass to his memory, within the altar rails. 
Sub hoc saxo sepulchral! jacent 
Eeiiquise venerabilis viri 
Johanis Price, S. T. P. 
Qui Ducibus AumarlisB 
Patri et filio a sacris erat. 
In Eestaurando Carolo fidelissimus Adjutor 
Quippe qui a Partibus Kegis et Ecclesioe 
Fortiter semper stetit 
Kebus in adversis. 
Yitse tandem cursu pie peracto, obiit 
iEtonensis Collegii socius 
Ecclesise Sarum Praebendarius 
iNecnon Pettworthensis Parochise ? , - ,_ Q1 
Pastor vigilantissimus. J P r " ' * 

"Mystery and Method of the happy restauration of Charles II., 
laid open to public view, by John Price," 1680. A book preserved 
in the Library, at Petworth House. 

f Admission, on presentation of Eton Coll. Eeg. Patrick 
fol. 10. (Chichester), Author of a work entitled "Pelling on 
Charity." 



LATER INCUMBENTS. 



71 



Rectors. 

1718. Benj. Langwith, D. D.* 

1 743. John Wickins, D. D. - 

1783. Euseby Cleaver, D. D.f - 

1789. Charles Dunster, M. A.J 

1816. Thomas Sockett, M. A.§ 

1 859. Charles Holland, M. A. - 



Patrons. 

Charles Duke of 
Somerset. 

Charles Duke of 
Somerset. 

George Earl of 
Egremont. 



?> 



?> 



George Lord 
Leconfield. 



* Author of Observations on Arbuthnot's Essay on the 
Weights and Measures of the ancients, 4to. 1747. 

t Bishop of Cork and Eoss, 1789, and of Leighlin and Ferns, 
1789. Archbishop of Dublin, 1809. 

% One of the most eminent critical scholars of his time. He 
published a translation of "The Frogs" of Aristophanes, 4to. 1785. 
His works in connection with English literature are an edition of 
Phillips's "Cyder" with excellent notes, and many local anecdotes of 
Herefordshire, 8vo. 1791. Paradise Regained with "notes of much 
erudition." 1795. Considerations on Milton's early reading and 
the prima stamina of his Paradise Lost. 1800. In his later years 
he devoted himself exclusively to Divinity, and published several 
works on the proofs of Christianity. 

§ There is a portrait of the Rev. T. Sockett, by Phillips, in the 
Library, Petworth House. In his earlier career he was associated 
with the poet Hayley's Life of Cowper. He graduated at Oxford ; 
and became Rector of Petworth & Duncton (Sussex), and of North 
Scarle (Lincoln). As during a decade of his life, the writer of these 
pages, his godson, received the benefit of his instruction, he now 
gladly seizes the opportunity of paying a small tribute of gratitude 
to his memory. His acquaintance with experimental science was 
accurate and extensive. His untiring love for the classics in general, 
and for Horace in particular, was truly remarkable. The New Tes- 
tament he always preferred to hear in the Greek original. His 
goodness was unostentatious ; but not the less active, and his works 
do follow him. 



72 PETWORTH. 

CHAPTER V. 

The Town— Roads— Tradesmen's Tokens— Petworth Marble— Iron 
Works — Hospitals — Old Houses— Inn Signs— Sports of the last 
century — Town Hall — G-aol — Modern improvements. 
The market towne of Petteworth, 
Yn the wald of Southsax, is right well encreasid, 
Syns the Yerles of Northumbreland usid litle to ly there. 

Leland. 

The terms in which old Topographies, Directories, 
and Gazetteers speak of Petworth, considered by 
itself, as a town, apart from Petworth House, the 
Park, and the surpassingly beautiful scenery which 
surrounds it, are not flattering. One ignorantly as- 
serts that it is situated on a considerable eminence, 
upon a small stream near the Pother ; another 
describes the town as an irregular mass of streets ; 
while a third mentions it as small, and consisting 
of an irregular assemblage of buildings.* Its want 
of arrangement must be admitted; but the very 
intricacy of its ways and the quaintness of its old 
houses which disfigure Petworth, in the opinion 
of some, may commend it to others, as at least as 
picturesque as the long strait thoroughfare which 
characterizes many of our towns, and some of our 
cities. To return to the Domesday survey; it was 
then an independent and thriving place, producing 

* Petworth is 14 miles from Chichester, N. E. by N. ; 11 from 
Arundel, N. ; and 49 from London, S. W. by W, The parish, 
which is the most populous in the Kape of Arundel, contained 
3368 inhabitants at the last census. It is 6140 acres in extent. 



KEFORMATION PERIOD. 73 

<eels and hogs. Under its Norman Owners it did not 
become more prosperous, since the Nonce Roll in 
the 14th century (1345), shews that there were then 
but three persons here able to pay the assessment of 
a fifteenth, "Alan Lylye, value of goods and chattels 
vij 1. x s.; fifteenth, x s. Alan de Mulward, value of 
goods xxx s.; fifteenth, iis. Thomas Scarpe, value 
of goods xvs.; fifteenth, xij d." the rest of the in- 
habitants are returned as "living on their own lands; 
but by great labour."* 

Until the period of the Reformation it is probable 
that Pet worth was little more than a village, cluster- 
ing about the mansion of the Percies, as a nucleus. 
Leland speaks of it in the reign of Henry VIII., as 
having then, recently, "right well encreasid," and 
informs us that a manufacture of cloth had been esta- 
blished, — "now the men there make good clothe."t 

Our towns were not slow to derive benefit from 
the great change, which, under God's Providence, 
was effected in England by the Reformation. A 
variety of circumstances had concurred tending to 
the advancement of civil and religious freedom,— 
the invention of printing, the discovery of a new 
world, the introduction into Europe of the learning 
of the East, and the spirit of enquiry which began to 

* "Non sunt plures in eaclem parochia, nisi illi qui de ten*' suis 
propriis et magnis laboribus vivunt tantummodo." 

t Dallaway observes "In the sixteenth century, if not later, 
we have proof that cloth (chiefly coarse druggets) was made both 
at Chichester and Petworth." clxv. 



74 PETWORTH. 

dawn in the minds of men paved the way for an ad- 
vancing civilization, and we perceive signs of pro- 
gress in Petworth at this time, although Leland is 
no doubt correct in ascribing its growth chiefly to 
the circumstance of the Earls of Northumberland 
beginning to reside here more permanently. 

Improvements were effected, "Parson Edmonds," 
says the same Antiquary, "perceiving the great lak 
of water at Petteworth causid chiefly a great spring, 
the hedde whereof is about a mile from the town, to 
be brought in lede to Petteworth ; part of the water 
comming to the manor place, part to the personage, 
the residew to ii or iii places yn the streate of the 
toune." * 

Attention was now paid to the facilitation of 
travelling : the main road from London to Chiches- 
ter, by way of Petworth, at that time, and until a 
comparatively late period, lay over the Eotherbridge. 
With respect to this also Leland gives us information. 
He says that Parson Aeon whom we have spoken of 

* The supply of water for Petworth House and for the town 
is now chiefly obtained from the water works at Coultershaw Mill, 
erected by the late Earl of Egremont. Pipes carry it from the 
reservoir, through every street, without cost to the inhabitants. 
There is an agreement dated April 1. 1625, and confirmed by a 
decree in Chancery 1640, between Henry Earl of Northumberland 
and the then Rector and Townsmen of Petworth with respect to 
the water supply. The Earl undertook for himself and his succes- 
sors "to repair at his sole expense the fountain head, conduits and 
pipes (about 5 furlongs in length):" the townsmen made over to 
the Earl two closes, that they might be exempt from all further 
charge, with the exception of keeping the three conduits in the 
town in repair. 



KOTHEEBRIDGE. 75 

as the builder of the old steeple, "mayde the fayre 
bridge of stone, caullid Kotherbridge, about a mile 
from Petworth upon the water that commith downe 
from Cowdrey." The remains of this bridge* are 
still to be seen when the water of the Eother is low, 
and doubtless in the 16th century it was regarded as 
a benefit, as great as the Eailway bridge, recently 
thrown over the same river. 

In connection with the subject of roads I am 
anxious to vindicate this town from an aspersion. 
No one can read anything of old Petworth and its 
approaches without being constantly reminded of its 
mud. In truth it has been terribly bespattered. 
What I hope to prove however is, that it was not 
unusually muddy, — not worse in this respect than 
other places in Sussex, indeed that certain districts 
were muddier. But first as to the evidence that it 
was muddy. In 1583 when Queen Elizabeth was 
expected, the writer of a letter, which has been 

* The remarkable lane, called Hunger's lane ; about a mile in 
length, so narrow that two vehicles cannot pass, and having no 
human habitation adjoining it, was one of the old routes from 
Petworth and Tillington to this bridge. It is associated with 
traditional stories of supernatural terrors, and deeds of violence 
perpetrated on travellers, for which it is well suited, The old 
house at the end, near Kotherbridge, is remembered as the resort 
of smugglers and as the depository of their contraband imports. 
The last great party of smugglers which passed through Petworth, 
is said to have numbered about sixty. These entered the town on 
a Sunday morning, whilst the inhabitants were at church ; they 
were armed with pistols and cutlasses, and halted at several of the 
inns, with much composure. Tubs of brandy and hollands, and 
large bales of silk were slung across their horses, and two carts 
laden with goods accompanied them. 



76 PETWORTH. 

already given, speaks of the "ways to Petworth 
being so full of loose stones that it is careful and 
painful riding for anybody." There was an object 
however in then representing them as in a bad state; 
but the document commonly quoted against us, is the 
account of the reception of Charles King of Spain at 
Petworth, as late as 1703. Although this letter* has 
been frequently printed it is too interesting to be 
omitted. 

"Honoured Sir, — Seeing that I can't entertain you better by 
reason of our barrenness in foreign news, I'll venture to trouble you 

with a short account of my last week's ramble to Petworth, the 

two Dukes of Somerset and Marlborough went to Petworth on Christ- 
mas Bay, in order to wait upon his Majesty Accordingly we set 

out at that time, (six o'clock in the morning) by torchlight and did 
not get out of the coaches, save only when we were overturned or 
stuck fast in the mud, till we arrived at our journey's end. "T'wojS 
hard service for the Prince to sit fourteen hours in the coach that 
day, uithout eating anything, and passing through the worst ways 
that I ever saiv in my life; we were thrown but once indeed in 
going,"— in returning they were overturned tivice; but both our 
coach, which was the leading, and his Highness' s body coach would 
have suffered very often, if the nimble boors of Sussex had not 
frequently poised it, or supported it with their shoulders, from 
Godalming almost to Petivorth; amd the nearer we approached the 
Duke's house, the more unaccessible it seemed to be. The last nine 
miles of the way cost us six hours time to conquer them ; and indeed 
we had never done it if our good master had not several times lent us 
a pair of horses out of his own coach, whereby we were able to trace 
out the way for him ; they made us believe, that the several grounds 
we crost, and his Grace's Park, ivould alleviate the fatigue ; but I 
protest I could ho/rdly perceive any difference between them and the 
common roads." Sfc. Sfc. 



MUD. 77 

It cannot be denied that the approaches to 
Petworth required a surveyor of roads at that time, 
yet it should be remembered that the journey 
was made in the depth of winter, — at Christmas, 
and partly in the dark. But although the roads in 
this vicinity were then undoubtedly bad, can they 
be said to have been worse than those in the Eastern 
division of the County, twenty years later. Hercules 
himself would have there found it difficult to extricate 
a carriage. Defoe assures us that near Lewes "a lady 
was usually drawn to church by six oxen, the ways 
being so stiff and deep, that no horses could go in 
them." After travelling through all counties he 
asserts too, that in this part of England the road 
near Tunbridge was the "deepest and dirtiest." 
Indeed considering the state of Sussex in general 
with respect to mud, to stigmatize Petworth would be 
invidious.* Dr. John Burton in his Iter Sussexiense, 
written in Greek, bears out this assertion, since he 
speaks of Sussex as "a muddy, fertile and pastoral 
country, not easy to ride or drive through, so that 
having thereby earned a bad name, it has passed into 

* His own journey was scarcely more pleasant than that of 
the King of Spain, though undertaken at a better season. "I im- 
mediately fell upon a land muddy and desolate, upon roads — most 
abominable. Not even now though in summer time is the wintry 
state of the roads got rid of, for the wet retained even till now, in 
this mud, is sometimes splashed upwards all of a sudden to the 
annoyance of travellers. Our horses could not keep on their legs, 
on account of those slippery and rough parts of the roads ; but 
sliding and stumbling and almost on their haunches got on but 
slowly ."-—This was in 1771. 



78 PETWOKTH. 

a byword, and any difficulty hard to get through or 
struggle against may by a simile be called, — the 
Sussex bit of road." He cannot refrain from many 
pleasantries on the subject, such as the following, — 
"Come now my friend I will set before you a pro- 
blem in Aristotle's fashion. Why is it that the oxen, 
the swine, the women, and all other animals are so 
long legged in Sussex ? May it not be from the diffi- 
culty of pulling the feet out of so much mud by the 
strength of the ankle, that the muscles get stretched 
as it were, and the bones lengthened. 59 * Some parts 
of the weald still present obstacles of this nature to 
the pedestrian in winter. The roads about Petworth 
are now however remarkably good.f 

Trade began to flourish in Petworth in the 17th 
century. This appears indirectly from the number 
of Tradesmen's tokens, (5) a large number propor- 
tionally, issued in this town. Those which I have 
seen are as follows. 

*William Hurst— in the field W. H. 

Rev.* In. Petworth. 165— in the field W. H. 

^Richard Stringer — in the field three cones. 

Qy. (sugar loaves) 

Rev. * Of Petworth 1652— in the field R # S. 

^William Manser. At. — in the field five candles 

in a row. 

* S, A. C. viii. 257. 

f Great improvements in the roads near Petworth were effect- 
ed by the late Earl of Egremont, who constructed the new road to 
Horsham in 1813, the road from Byworth to Lowheath to shorten 
the distance to Arundel, and others. 



PETWORTH MAKBLE. 79 

Rev. * Petworth in Sussex — in the field ^ \ 
*John Peachey — in the field. J#P. 

Rev. In Petworth — in the field 1656. 

From the London Gazette of November 1666, we 
know that a fair was kept here, at this period, for 
nine days successively. A notice in it states that the 
fair usually held at Petworth in Sussex, Nov. 20.* 
would not be held that year, as the county was still 
much infested by the plague, 

Sussex or Petworth marble, which was formerly- 
very extensively procured in this vicinity, and iron 
which was largely manufactured here, as in many 
parts of Sussex, require a brief notice. 

Petworth marble is found in the adjacent par- 
ishes f of Kirdford and Northchapel, and in those 
of Wisboro' Green and Billingshurst, over an area of 
20 square miles, % at a depth of 25 feet. "It occurs 
in layers that vary from a few inches to a foot or more 
in thickness ; and are separated from each other by 

* November 20th continues to be the date of the largest of the 
fairs held at Petworth. 

f Petworth itself is on "the lower green sand," a superincum- 
bent stratum. It is therefore only occasionally met with, in the 
parish, in boring for wells. 

X Two courses of it occur in the weald clay. That nearest 
Petworth may be traced from midway between Kirdford and Lur- 
gashall, in the west by Battlehurst and Marshalls, to the Arun, and 
by Pococks and Hungar Hill, Shipley, and Sands (West Grinstead) 
to the Adur. The more northern, which is the thickest and finest 
bed, skirts round by Kirdford and Plaistow. This is the course 
which furnished slabs for architectural purposes. A quarry of it 
was open at Slaughter Farm in 1828. P. J, Martin^ Geological 
Memoir^ 43. 



80 PETWOBTH. 

seams of clay, or of a friable limestone. This lime- 
stone is of various shades of bluish grey, mottled with 
green, and ochraceous yellow, and is composed of the 
remains of fresh- water univalves, formed by a calca- 
reous cement into a beautiful compact marble. It 
bears a high polish and is elegantly marked by the 
sections of the shells which it contains : their con- 
stituent substance presenting a striking contrast to 
the dark ground of the marble. In other varieties 
the substance of the shells is black, and their sections 
appear on the surface in the form of numerous lines 
and spiral figures. Occasionally a few bivalves cyclas 
occur, and the remains of the minute crustaceous 
coverings of the Cyprisfaba very constantly."* From 
the large size of most of the shells of which it is 
formed it is more liable to decomposition than Pur- 
beck marble ; but it exceeds it in beauty, from their 
being so plainly apparent when viewed in a polished 
surface. 

In early Norman times it is said to have been 
much sought after, for the decoration of our cathe- 
drals in the form of the small insulated shafts of 

* Mantell, Geology of South East of England, 184. That Pet* 
worth marble was known to the Romans is not improbable, and 
on the faith of the remarkable slab on which occur the names of 
Pudens and Claudia, discovered in Chichester 1723, Dr. Mantell has 
erroneously stated that there is historical proof of this. The slab is 
however of Purbeck marble, which consists of the fossil remains of 
Faludina elongata a much smaller species of univalve than Palu-> 
dina fluviorum, the species of which Petworth marble is composed. 
The difference between the two kinds of marble is very conspicuous, 
when they are seen in juxtaposition. S. A. C. vii. 63. 



IKON WOEKS. 81 

pillars, such as those in the north aisle, and the 
columns in the clerestory at Chichester, It was pro- 
bably however not so much wrought for this purpose 
as has been asserted, — some of the examples cited 
are certainly Purbeck. But in many of the churches 
of Sussex it occurs as sepulchral slabs, in which 
brasses were inserted. One of these at Trotton 
measures 9 ft. 6 in. by 4 ft. 6 in. In the old houses 
of the Sussex gentry it is frequently to be observed in 
the form of sideboards, columns and chimney pieces, 
and was so abundant near Petworth that one sees 
it used in the town even for ignoble purposes, as 
for paving and for the construction of sinks and 
water-troughs. 

It has been mentioned that old Petworth Park 
was nearly consumed by the iron works* at an early 
period, as one laments who was evidently acquainted 
with this district, "Such a heate," he says "issueth 
out of so many forges and furnaces for the making of 
iron, and out of the glassf kilns, as hath devoured 
many famous woods within the welds, as about 

* In an excellent account of the Sussex Iron Works by Mr. 
Lower, we find as owners in 1574, 

"The late Earl of Northumberland, 1 fordg, 1 furnace, in Petworth 
Great Park, in the hands of Mr. Blackwell. 
Thomas Smyth, 1 fordg, 1 furnace in Shillinglee. 
Henry Boyer, 1 furnace in Moore forest." S. A, C. ii. iii. 

t A road from Petworth in the direction of Kirdford retains 
the name of "Glass house Lane." In the parishes of Kirdford and 
Wisboro' Green there were two glass manufactories during the 
reign of Elizabeth, the last had employment as late as that of 
Charles I. Dallaway clxv. 



82 PETWORTH. 

Burning fold, Lopwood Greene (Loxwood), the Minns, 
Kirdford, Petworih parkes, Ebernoe, Wassels, fyc* 
The hammer pondsf which remain in the neighbour- 
hood, and especially the string of them in Stag Park, 
now converted into fish ponds, are sufficient evidence 
of the manufacture of this metal, now monopolized 
by the North ; but which once raised many Sussex 
families to affluence. 

One of the distinctive features of Petworth is the 
number and munificence of its charities ; and what- 
ever may be theoretically advanced against such be- 
nevolent institutions, it cannot be denied that they 
have been beneficial to the inhabitants of this place. 
No town in Sussex is in this respect better provided.^ 

The earliest is Thompson's Hospital, in North 
Street, founded 1624, and well endowed. § The 
founder directed that the Governors should be in- 
corporated and use a common seal, the house to 
be called "The Hospital of our Lord and Saviour 
Jesus Christ, of the guyft or foundacion of Thomas 

* ISTorden, Surveyor's Dialogue, London. 1607. 

f So pleasantly described by A. E. Knox, Esq., in his Orni- 
thological Rambles in Sussex, 99. A work highly esteemed by all 
naturalists, in which many scenes and incidents near Petworth are 
depicted. Both to the zoologist and to the botanist the vicinity 
offers a rich field for observation. 

J The income derived from these charities and endowments 
amounts to nearly £1600. a year. 

§ The founder was born here. He left the House built by 
him in 1618, for a hospital : and the trust deed provides "that £60. 
per annum shall be given to 12 (now 14) poore persons of either 
sex, inhabitants of Petteworth, and that the increments of the 
estate should be divided between them." The gross value of its 
revenues at the present time is £267. per annum. 



* »• 



THE SOMERSET HOSPITAL. 33 

Thompson,* Gent, of Barnard's Inn." It is neatly 
built of stone, has been restored, and is in good 
preservation. 

The Somerset Hospital, a remarkable specimen 
of the brick building, of the early part of the last 
century, also in North street, is the largest of these 
charitable foundations.! The property was purchas- 
ed by Charles Duke of Somerset in 1740, J who in 
1746, built the Hospital for twelve poor widows, § to 
be elected by owner of the Honor, Manor, and Man- 
sion House of Petworth for the time being. 

The Duke liberally endowed it and personally 

* In a return made by Lake, Bishop of Chichester, of Hospitals 
in Sussex, before 1690, it is stated that "In Petworth is an Hospital 
founded by one Thompson.,.. There was also a chapel joined to this 
Hospital and endowed with about £10 per annum, for a person to 
read Divine Service to the poor people ; but this is now suppressed 
and the Chapel shut up." S. A. C. xiij. 305. 

f Elizabeth Countess Dowager of Northumberland had be- 
queathed (Dec. 30, 1704,) £1000. to the Duke for the purchase of 
lands for maintenance of six poor widows. His Grace carried out 
her design and increased the number to twelve, 

% A letter dated Northumberland House, June 17, 1740, gives 
the particulars of the sale, this property had been part of the estate 
of Francis Mose, Esq., occupied by a family named Wiekliffe. It 
was bought for £160. in the name of T. Elder, Esq., the Duke's 
Steward. Muniments^ Petworth Rouse, 

§ The indenture describes it as purchased for this purpose, by 
Charles, Duke of Somerset, Marquis and Earl of Hertford, "Viscount 
and Baron Beauchamp de Hatche, Baron Seymour of Trowbridge, 
Lord of the Honors of Cockermouth and Petworth, Chancellor of 
the University of Cambridge, Lord High Steward of the City of 
Chichester, and one of the G-overnors of the Charterhouse, and one 
of His Majesty's Privy Council, and made over in trust to Matthias 
Mawson, Lord Bishop of Chichester, Sir Cecil Bishop, of Parham, 
Sir Thomas Booth, Hutchins Williams, Esq. of Chichester, and 
the Rectors of Petworth, Tillington, and Northchapel. 



84 PETWOETH. 

took an interest in its completion.* The number of 
widows was increased to twenty-two in 1818, at a 
pension of £20. per annum each, and the surplus 
income, as directed, is divided among other widows 
as out pensioners. The revenues of this hospital at 
present amounts to more than £800. per annum. 

A benefaction to Petworth called "Ay re's Chari- 
ty," which now produces more than £57. a year, 
was made June 8th 1673, by Richard Ayre, Gent., 
who bequeathed a house anciently called the Crown 
Inn,f and other premises, to be applied by trustees 
in gifts of money for the poor, and the remainder to 
be distributed in bread. The value of this charity 
was formerly but £16. % 

* His visits to inspect the alterations going on at the Hospital, 
in a richly carved, gilded, and velvet lined Sedan Chair, carried by- 
two very tall, muscular men, each nearly 6 ft. 2 in. high, with a 
running footman carrying a silver topped staff to clear the way ; 
and two others, who walked one on each side of the window of the 
chair, with similar silver headed sticks to knock on the head any 
persons whose curiosity might tempt them to try to get a sight of 
the ducal occupant, are still traditionally remembered. 

f This building can be identified by the description given of 
it in the next note. It has an upstairs room, evidently the chief 
apartment, when the house was an inn, of which the ceiling is still 
an interesting object. It has elaborate ornaments in plaster boldly 
but somewhat roughly executed. Men, women, and various animals 
are represented in grotesque attitudes, some of the figures are but 
little injured. On the space above the fireplace, between it and the 
ceiling is a coat of arms with a shield, having on it a boars head, 
which also appears elsewhere on the plaster. The crest and 
supporters are mutilated. 

J "Mr. Richard Aire gave to the use of the poore of the Parish 
of Petworth one house which was anciently called ye Crown Inn, 
near ye church gate, ye corner house on the left hand cowing up 
from ye market, containing six tenements, stable yard and gardens 
to ye value of sixteen pounds per annum or more." Petworth Reg. 



CHAKITIES. 85 

Taylor's Charity is a bequest made in 1753 by 
the Eev. John Taylor, Fellow of St. Mary's College 
Winchester, of £2400, the interest to be applied by 
the Rectors of Petworth, Tillington and Duncton, 
for the education* of ten boys and ten girls. He 
also left £500, to St. Mary's, Winton College, the 
interest of half to be paid to two poor Tradesmen of 
Petworth, and that of the other half to the widows 
of two poor clergymen, and £50, the interest to be 
expended in the purchase of Bibles, Prayer Books, 
and Religious Tracts. 

In 1816, the Earl of Egremont, built a school for 
30 boys, in North Street, which has been recently 
enlarged by Lord Leconfield, and ground for the 
purpose of recreation added. The Earl also erected 
a school for 30 girls, in Church Street, which has 
since been pulled down and the site thrown into the 
churchyard. In lieu of this building, Lord Lecon- 
field purchased the former Independent Chapel in 
East Street, and at his sole expense converted it into 
the commodious school, in which the girls are at 
present instructed. An endowment in the 3 per 
cent Consols of £1333 „ 6 „ 8, which produces £40 
per annum for this school, and a like endowment for 
that of the boys, were effected by the late Earl. 

* The master is to instruct "in the grounds of Christianity, 
reading, writing and arithmetic," and to be allowed for his salary 
£35 a year. By a codicil (1763) the interest of £800 is added for 
the clothing of the boys and girls. One child of each sex is 
apprenticed annually. 



86 PETWOKTH. 

The Infant School near the County Gaol, was 
also built and endowed in 1862, by Lord Leconfield, 
the income arising from this investment is about £33 
a year. This and the handsome School at Byworth, 
for girls, are supported by his Lordship, who has 
followed in the footsteps of his munificent father.* 

The Alms Houses in the New Eoad, near the new 
cemetery, founded in 1836, by the Earl of Egremont 
and endowed with the sum of £3150, were instituted 
for the benefit oifour aged persons. To each house 
is attached a good garden. The present trustees are 
Lord Leconfield, and the Hon. H. Wyndham, M, P.f 

* In each of the respective parishes, in which he has property, 
the nohle owner of the Petworth estate expends a considerable 
amount annually in charities, and among other instances of his 
Lordship's liberality, one really good work is too apparent to be 
passed over in silence, — the numerous commodious cottages which 
have been erected in Petworth and its vicinity are a boon to their 
occupiers, in point of health and comfort, not easily attainable 
elsewhere, and serve as a model for landowners. Their moral, 
sanitary and elevating influence, can scarcely be over estimated. 

f There are several smaller charities for the poor of early date. 
Henry Pylfolde by will dated "vij of Julie 1565" devised that the 
owner of Westlands "shall paye out of the same unto the use of the 
parish of Petworth xiijs. iiijd., by the year for ever, to be demand-; 
ed and collected and gathered by the collectours for the poor of 
the Parishe aforesaid. ,, John Avenell, by will July 28. 1681, de- 
vised thus "I give to the poore of Petworth three pounds a year 
for ever, out of my farm called Westlands and other my freehold 
Lands and Tenements lying in the parish of Petworth, to be paid 
upon the feast day of Saint Thomas the Apostle" #c. &c. Under 
the will of Henry Smith, in 1627, usually called Dog Smith, (pro? 
bably from having been led by a dog), a rent charge of £5 a year is 
payable for the poor of Petworth out of lands in Hartfield. And 
more recently an endowment producing £4 „ 1 „ 4 per annum, to 
be distributed in bread, was made by Peter Luttman, Esq,, an old 
inhabitant of the town. Also, a native of this parish, Mr. Daniel 
Lee, of Bath, who died April 8. 1849 aged 97, bequeathed £700 on 
trust to the Rector and Churchwardens of Petworth, and their 



OLD HOUSES. 87 

There are several houses in various parts of the 
town which deserve the attention of the archaeologist, 
particularly the old residence of the Dawtrey family, 
described by Leland as the "house longing to them 
in Petworth by the chirch." This is a large build- 
ing, of stone, forming two sides of a square; one 
side facing the church, the other in Lombard Street. 
It is gabled, the points of the gables being orna- 
mented with balls, and has long mullioned windows, 
some of which are in their original state.* Allusion 
has been made to the Dawtreysf in the account of 
St. Thomas's Chapel, and the tombs and brasses to 

successors for the time being "that they shall for ever hereafter, 
twice in each and every year, pay and divide the annual dividends 
of the said sum equally unto and amongst three of the oldest and 
most deserving poor, either men or women, who shall be parish- 
ioners of Strood and Byworth, within the said parish of Petworth, 
and members of the Established Church. 

* An engraving of it is given in Dr. Turner's paper on Pet- 
worth. S. A. C. xiv. 

t The pedigree of Dawtrey is fully deduced by Dallaway, 332. 
William son of Joceline de Alta Ripa, is supposed to have been 
the founder of Heringham or Hardham Priory. Edmund Dawtrey 
of Petworth, sheriff in 1527, became possessed of Moore by mar- 
riage with Isabel niece of John Wood, Treasurer of England, temp. 
[Richard III. Edmund Dawtrey, his son, grandson, and great- 
grandson, were successively sheriffs of Sussex from 1492 to 1566. 
When Leland visited Petworth in the reign of Henry VIII. it seems 
that he was a guest of Sir Henry Dawtrey, and received from him 
some curious information relating to property here. "Dawterey told 
me" he says "that there were 3 women or sisters that had the divi- 
sion of the landes of the Honor of Petworth, and that they were thus 
maried to Percye, Dawterey, and Aske. So that hereupon I gather 
that al these 3 cam oute of the northe countre. Percy, Dawterey, & 
Aske, give the myllepykes (fusils) but with difference yn the felde. 
The first partition hath not continued in al the aforesaid 3 names 
holy ; but hath bene disperkelid. Yet some likelihod is, that seeing 
that so much remained a late yn Percie hand, that Dawterey and 
Aske had never like partes, to have been but as beneficiarii (mesne 



88 PETWORTH. 

them there. "The chiefest house of these Dawtereis," 
the same antiquary observes "is in Petworth paroche, 
caullid the More, half a mile from Petworth toune."* 

The crescent, a badge of the Percies, t appears 
as an ornament on the exterior of some of the older 
houses e. g. at Norman Place, in East Street, and 
occasionally in the interior. 

The gable end at the back of the house belonging 
to A. Daintrey, Esq., which is timber framed, the 
spaces between the timbers being filled up with 
herring-bone brickwork, is of the early Elizabethan 
jstyle. The ceiling of the principal room is beauti- 
fully wrought in stucco with festoons of flowers, 
terminating in a central wreath. 

Newgrove was the property of an ancient family 
called de Aula or Atte Hall, established there before 
the reign of Henry VI. John Hall possessed it in 
1625, his daughter Mary married William Peachey 

lords to "Percy. Dikes, whos landes now be devolvid to Mr. Goring, 
and other gentilmen thereabout, were beneficiarii to the Honor of 
Petworth. Dawtery, the knight, that dwellid in Hampton Town, 
was brother to old Mr. Dawtery, now living at Petworth; and this 
Dawtrey of Hampton landes cam al by purchase." Itinerary vi. 17, 

# The mansion of Moore was built round a court with an 
arched gateway in the centre. It was in great part taken down in 
1763, and the remainder converted into a farm house. In 1786 it 
was sold to the Earl of Egremont by the Bishop of Llandaffto 
whom it had been bequeathed. It contains a spacious apartment, 
having a ribbed stuccoed ceiling, with the family crest, a unicorn 
passant argent, displayed at the points where the ribs intersect. 
The walls are oak panelled. Over the fire place is the Dawtrey 
escutcheon of arms with the date 1580. 

f "The crescents of Percy occur in the abbey of Sallay." 
Notes to Tongas Heraldic Visitation of Yorkshire. 89. It is visi- 
ble on the Earl of Northumberland's chair engraved at p. 21. 



.INN SIGNS. 89 

and afterwards Henry Bulstrode, who began the 
present house. Sir Henry Peachey when created a 
Baronet in 1736, was styled of Newgrove.* 

Strange names were attached to property in old 
Petworth, such as Bywimbles near the Church, 
Horsberries in the East Street, and a spot which 
rejoiced in the appellation of Buttermongers.f The 
place now called Darner's Bridge was then named 
Sowter Ditch, and a building in the Market Place 
was termed the Roundabout House, from its Rotun- 
do-like appearance.^ 

* The late Earl of Egremont purchased it in 1773 of Lord 
Selsey, second son of Sir H. Peachey. 

f A rate made 168f , which is preserved in the Parish Chest, 
supplies a few additional appellations. 

Names of Persons. — Henry Dammer ; Robert Ffoord ; John 
Eede of Craweli ; Jeffery Dawtrey, House and Land, 5d. Henry 
Gatton, Haseleingbourn Mill and Cowtersole Mill, 1/4. Dr. Price 
for ye parsonage and Grleeb Land, 10/10. W. Peachey, Esq. for the 
Lyth ; Widow Sadler for the blew Lyon ; Matt. Taylor for Limbo, 
lid. Mr. Penington for the George, 5d. Richard Nye for Jno. 
Avenell's Farm, 1/. 

Ss/ March ye eleventh 168J 
wee alow of this Tax 

Robert Palmer. John Lickfold, 

Ralph Mills. Churchwarden, 

John Apsley. his mark I 

Mathew Taylor, 
Churchwarden. 
J As the Archaeology of Inn Signs shews that some are of 
religious origin, others heraldic, or have reference to distinguished 
persons, pastimes or trades. The local historian usually gleans some 
knowledge from considering them. In an assessment, made in the 
reign of Queen Anne, the following signs occur : The White Hart ; 
The Swan ; The Half Moon ; The George ; The Bull ; The Coach ; 
The Brick and Mould ; The Plow, at Shopham Bridge. There 
have been in Petworth two signs of the White Hart, and the Little 
White Hart; The White Antelope, often confounded with the 
White Hart of Richard II., and the Silver Swan were the badges 
of John of Gaunt and furnish many of the Inn Si^ns of West 



90 PETWORTH. 

The progress which the town has now made, 
compared with the barbarisms of the age just past 
can with difficulty be conceived. It is not easy tQ 
realize the fact that within the last century the bait- 
ing of bulls was a common occurrence, on the very 
spot on which the Market House now stands. Bulls 
were tied to the stake in the Market Place and there 
lacerated morsibus scevis canum, in the open area, 
and I have been informed by an old inhabitant, that 
he remembered the circumstance on one occasion, of 
a bull breaking loose and charging the ring, to the 
no small disconcertment of the surrounding throng. 
It was a custom to burn a candle at the butcher's 
stall where the flesh of the bull was sold, after the 
cruel sport had terminated. 

Throwing at cocks on Shrove Tuesday was 
another brutal practice no less demoralizing These 
birds are said to have been trained to avoid the staff 
thrown at them, by adroitly jumping or flying away. 
If struck so that the legs were broken, or if the poor 
biped was stunned, and did not recover before a 

Sussex. The Half Moon or Crescent may be traced back to the 
crusades ; but as a badge of the Percies there is a reason for meeting 
with it at Petworth. The Angel is a sign which not unfrequently 
occurs elsewere. The Crown, Sun, & Ship, names of old Petworth 
Inns speak for themselves. Of Red Lions there have been two, 
and also a Blue Lion, the latter near one of the Lodges of Petworth 
House : as the Lion azure was borne by the Percies, this is easily 
accounted for : this Inn was afterwards called the Brown Colt. 
A house near the Reservoir had the sign of the Fighting Cocks, and 
the Inn in the Market Place, now the Star, was called the Bull, 
both having reference to barbarous sports above alluded to. 



FULLER'S VALE. 91 

certain time, it became the property of the striker. 
This debasing pastime was carried on at the corner 
of the road, which leads to Tillingtom* 

The cruel and irrational sports of a bygone age 
have now been succeeded by cricket, and rifle prac- 
tice, manly and beneficial recreations, in keeping 
with the spirit of our times. 

The butts are to be seen in constant and signifi- 
cant use, and it is curious to note the words of 
Fuller, in his account of Sussex, 200 years ago. 
"For my Vale to this countryf I desire to be their 
remembrancer of the councell which William Earl 
of Arundle gave to his son Henry Fitzallen, viz. 
Never to trust to their neighbours the French. 
Indeed for the present they are at amity with us ; 
but foreign friendship is ticklish, temporary and 
lasteth no longer than it is advantaged with mutuall 
interest." The truth of this observation appears 
from the fact that several wars between France and 
England ; one of more than twenty years duration, 
have since ensued. That the patriotism of Petworth 
was tested just before Waterloo, is sufficiently shewn 

* Although bull and bear bailing were witnessed with satis- 
faction by ladies in the reigns of Mary and Elizabeth ; and still 
later a municipal enactment existed that in all towns and cities, no 
butcher should be allowed to kill a bull until it had been baited, 
yet that such cruelties should have been so recently tolerated, is 
now a source of wonder. Bull baiting has not been extinct here 
more than sixty years. It was abolished by the late Earl of Egre* 
mont. Cock throwing was even longer practised. 

f Worthies, 114. 



92 PETWOETH. 

by a handbill posted in the Market Place, at that 
time, a copy of which I have seen. It contained 
pressing invitations to enlist and concluded with a 
couplet full of confidence, if not poetical, 

"Ye Sussex lads, your courage shew, 
The French dogs for to overthrow." 

The Yeomanry cavalry who were accustomed to 
exercise in Petworth Park have not been disembodi- 
ed more than five and twenty years, and the very 
existence of the 6th Sussex Volunteers, whose num- 
bers are imposing, marksmen excellent, and band 
successful in musical contest, implies that with an 
Anglo-French alliance, generally popular, and which 
it is to be hoped may long continue, war is at least, a 
contingency provided for : while freedom from strife 
with our Gallic neighbours, during half a century 
has given to our cities and towns opportunities for 
progress, denied to the last generation, which cannot 
be embraced too thankfully. 

The modern improvements in Petworth must be 
noticed but briefly.* The irregularity of arrange- 
ment which characterizes the townf has been already 

* Some of its Streets may still be uneven, unpaved, and un- 
watered. The clock on the Market House, at a standstill, may yet 
deceive the unwary rustic, who looks intently at it, and then sets his 
watch by it, but it cannot be denied that many improvements have 
been effected in the town itself, the approaches greatly amended, 
and better drained, and the lighting and watching ameliorated. 

t Cynical critics may call Petworth ugly ; but without being 
guilty of maudlin sentimentality, those to whom it has afforded a 
dulce domum in their childhood may love it still ; if for no better 
reason than that which leads the mother to think her plain child 



TOWN HALL. 93 

adverted to, but this is a feature which is becoming 
less apparent; while by the metaphysical law of asso- 
ciation, its very nooks and corners serve to imprint it 
more indelibly on the memories of those who have 
quitted it for remote counties or for distant lands. 

The area in the centre of the town now called 
the Market Place* was so termed in the reign of 
Charles I. The Market House or Town Hall, built 
of stone was however erected by the late Earl of 
Egremont in 1793. It is adorned at one end with 
a bust of William III. In the Court Eoomf the 

handsome, — because she looks on it as hers, she regards ifc as her 
own. But even dispassionately considered, few will deny that it is 
in some respects unique, and pleasant and healthful in no ordinary 
degree. 

* A small weekly market, has long been held here. As Pet- 
worth is situated in a district purely agricultural, its prosperity 
necessarily depends in some degree, on the improved cultivation of 
the soil in its vicinity, and much success in this respect has been 
achieved. Young speaks admiringly of what had been done in his 
time. "The greatest improvement that I know undertaken in this 
county, has been effected at the Stag Park at Petworth, some years 
ago by the Earl of Egremont. Previously to its being improved, 
it was an entire forest scene, overspread with bushes, furze, some 
timber, and rubbish of no kind of use, if we except a few miserable, 
and ragged young stock, which it annually reared, and would not 
have let for more than 4s., or at most, 5s., an acre. The under- 
taking of converting between 700 and 800 aeres of land was an 
exertion to be expected only from an animated and enlightened 
improver. Every part has been drained in the most effectual man- 
ner, and the whole of it enclosed and divided into proper fields. 
Few tracts of 20s. or 30s. per acre can be said to be more produc- 
tive. Extraordinary fine crops of wheat and oats are raised. It is 
thoroughly well stocked. The whole is a garden.' ' Agriculture of 
Sussex, p. 188. The wonderful advancement which has since taken 
place on the Petworth Estate, where every improvement in the 
science and practice of agriculture is at once adopted, is too appa- 
rent to need further mention. 

t Petworth has not been without its facilities for self-culture. 



94 PETWOBTH. 

Epiphany and Easter Quarter Sessions, for the 
Western Division of the county are held, by suf- 
ferance ; as well as the fortnightly Petty Sessions 
of the magistrates, and the County Court. The 
lower portion has been lately converted by the 
liberality of Lord Leconfield, — at his sole expense, 
into rooms, for purposes of mental recreation and 
improvement. These are now occupied by a Sub- 
scription Reading Society, and a Working Man's 
Institute, to the banishment of the stocks and 
whipping post, formerly to be seen there, inter- 
rorem, and occasionally made use of. 

Dallaway in his Preliminary History has given a 
long and interesting account of Petworth Prison up 
to 1819. In 1782 it consisted of two miserable 
apartments, t subsequently replaced by a structure 
on the Howard plan. This has been superseded 
during the last few years by what may now be con- 



The Literary and Scientific Institution was once prosperous, nor 
does its decease imply its failure. It did its work in its day, — an 
honorable epitaph on a society, as the like would be on an in- 
dividual. A Mutual Improvement Society succeeded. In the room 
of these, the existing Institutions have followed, each in accordance 
with prevailing opinions, and all calculated for advancement, 
intellectual and moral. For Lectures in connection with the re- 
spective objects of these Societies, the use of the Town Hall has 
always been freely granted. 

t Howard's statements shew that the discipline of Prisons 
was then lax, the stipends paid to the functionaries attached to 
them inadequate, and the treatment of those incarcerated most 
wretched. At the old prison at Petworth it was customary for the 
inmates to put out a leather bag, with a label on it, "Pray remem- 
ber the poor prisoners." 



HOWARDS REPORT. 95 

sidered a model Gaol. The contrast is remarkable. 
Howard the Philanthropist deservedly of European 
celebrity, who died at Kherson, (1790) while en- 
gaged in his work of mercy, visited Petworth Bride- 
well in 1774 and 1776 and made the following 
report — "Petworth. This Bridewell has two rooms, 
one 17ft. by 10ft. full 6ft. high, the other 18ft. by 
9ft. 6ft. high, too small for the general number of 
prisoners. No chimney, no yard, no water, no em- 
ployment. Allowance, a penny loaf a day. This 
I found to weigh seven ounces and a half. Keeper's 
salary, lately augmented from £12 to £20. Fees 6s. 
8d. No Table. The Keeper told me in September 
1774, that all his prisoners were, upon discharge, 
much weakened by the close confinement and small 
allowances. In 1774, September 28th, 4 prisoners. 
In 1776, February 23rd, 8 prisoners." 

Insufficient nutriment and want of ventilation tell 
rapidly upon health, as is well known ; but on com* 
paring dates, the facts which Howard next adduces 
are truly appalling. 

"Thomas Draper and William Godfrey were 
committed the 6th January 1776; the former died 
the 11th, the other on the 26th of the same month. 
William Cox committed the 13th of January, died 
the 23rd. None of them had the Gaol Fever. I do 
not affirm that these men were famished to death : it 
was extreme cold weather. However since that time 



9(5 PETWORTH, 

the allowance of bread is doubled. For this the pri- 
soners are indebted to the kind attention of the Duke 
of Richmond." 

In 1782 the magistrates determined on thorough- 
ly remedying this deplorable state of things and 
erecting a suitable building. A new House of Cor- 
rection was accordingly commenced, on a site pre- 
sented by the Earl of Egremont, from designs by 
J. Wyatt, Esq., in 1785, and completed in 1788.* 
Alterations adapting it for carrying out the principle 



* Many regulations were then drawn up, among which are 
the following. 4. — That the Governor and Turnkey take especial 
care that the prisoners are kept separate, night and day, and that 
they perform such work as may be allotted them, in their respective 
cells, and that they, upon no pretence whatever permit them to 
have any communication one with another. That every person in 
health attend divine service, and be put into the airing yard, for at 
least the space of one hour every day ; and that no two prisoners 
be aired together unless the number should make it absolutely 
necessary. That each prisoner before he is aired, sweeps and cleans 
his room and washes his hands and face. 6. — That there be also 
provided for every felon and other prisoner (except vagrants) com- 
mitted for punishment, a coat, a waistcoat, a pair of breeches, two 
shirts, two pair of stockings, one pair of shoes, one hat, one woollen 
night cap. The clothing to be made of the cheapest and darkest 
colored woollens, without plaits or pockets, with different colored 
sleeves, 7. — That the women be likewise clothed with garments of 
the same colour and materials proper for women. 8. — That when 
a felon or other prisoner is first received into the prison, the 
surgeon shall examine the state of his health, and such as are 
committed for felony or punishment shall then be stripped naked, 
washed with warm water, and have his head shaved (when deemed 
necessary by the G-overnor), and all his clothes baked in the oven, 
and laid by, to be returned when he leaves the prison. 9. — That 
each prisoner be allowed two pounds of bread a day, 10. — That 
no other liquor be allowed to the prisoners than water (except in 
case of sickness) and that no person be considered sick, that is not 
ordered to the infirmary by the surgeon. 



THE GAOL. 97 

of solitary confinement,* were made in 1816, and a 
system of employment was subsequently adopted. 
Within the last few years extensive improvements 
have been effected in Petworth Gaol, which on the 
abandonment of the Gaol at Horsham in 1843, has 
now become the Gaol for the Western Division of 
the County, while the gyves, fetters, leg irons, ring- 
bolts, &c, made use of in the last century are only 
to be seen as relics of the past, all the modern ap- 
pliances of prison discipline are at present in use, 
and although cruelty has been banished, the punish- 
ment which criminals now undergo is much more 
salutary and effective than it has ever previously 
been. 

In 1792 the Arun Canal from Stopham to Mid- 
hurst was constructed, which proved of benefit to 
the town. In 1836 it was supplied with gas, and it 
has now been connected with London by railway 
and telegraphic communication. The unusual beauty 
of the scenery on all sides of Petworth will conse- 
quently become more generally known and appre- 



* Independently of its present efficient state as a place of pun- 
ishment for wrong doers, Petworth Prison is remarkable as origin- 
ating the "separate or isolated system of confinement," now adopt- 
ed throughout the civilized world. Under his Grace the Duke of 
[Richmond, W. Mitford, Esq., Walter Smyth, Esq., and other 
magistrates of West Sussex, it was here first instituted in 1788, as 
appears from the Rules above cited. Two or three other English 
Gaols followed the example, with modifications ; it was speedily 
transplanted to Philadelphia and has been finally adopted as the 
basis of all modem penal discipline. 



98 PETWORTH. 

ciated * The prospect tower on the hill in the Park, 
and the Gohanna Lodge usually known as "Gog and 
Magog/ 5 have been built on heights from which most 
glorious views may often be obtained. In the town 
itself new erections spring up : old ones are restored. 
No one who has annually visited Petworth during 
the last few years can fail to have observed signs of 
an increased vitality, — signs of advancement. With 
places as with individuals, 

"There is a tide which taken at the turn 
leads on to fortune." 
But this only with God's help and with God's bless- 
ing* A review of the history of this town presents 
no evidence of decline, but on the contrary assures 
us that it has steadily improved, Very different is 
its condition now from what it was when Edward 
VI. rode into it, scarcely knowing where to find 
sustenance for his train, or when Charles, King of 
Spain groped his way hither by torchlight, or even 
when Dr. Johnson in his friend Metcalfe's carriage, 
visited it in 1782.f May this retrospect of its for- 
tunes make us more hopeful of its future, remember- 

* Horsfield, who received these lines from an unknown author 
has cited them as "certainly, applicable to the place." ii. 179. 
"Disdaining rules that human art bestows, 
Petworth' s proud scene in native grandeur glows. 
Far as th' horizon leads the wandering eye, 
The cloud capp'd hills the boundary supply. 
Here stately groves arise in form sublime ; 
Here sportive "Nature wantons in her prime." 

t BoswelTs Johnson, v. 38. 



CONCLUSION. 99 

ing always that as the steam within an engine is the 
motive power which propels it onwards on its jour- 
ney, so the men and women in a town directing 
their energies aright are the real source of its pro- 
gress, relying first on God's aid and next on them- 
selves. 

It is related of a body of Swiss Guards, at the 
court of a King of France, that on hearing a Swiss 
air played, all evinced great emotion, and some were 
so strongly moved that even death was the result. 
Nearly akin to this love of our country is the feeling 
of local attachment which influences almost every 
one. Around our native place many happy associa- 
tions cling. In after life friendships formed at school, 
or at a university; companionship in work and iden- 
tity of interest, may also exercise an enduring power; 
but they never obliterate the scenes of our earlier 
years. The collection and verification of these his- 
torical facts have consequently been to the writer a 
labour of love, yet he believes that he has not been 
unduly influenced by this circumstance. He is 
glad however that the task has fallen to his lot. 
There are few events connected with the ancient 
city of Chichester which are not well known ; the 
history and antiquities of Arundel have been minute- 
ly described; but those of Petworth have never 
hitherto been published in a separate book. Chi- 
chester Cathedral, Aiundel Castle, and Petworth 

LrfC. 



100 PETWORTfi. 

House were the only three buildings which Fuller 
noticed in his account of Sussex two centuries ago. 
None possess more interest now. As this sketch was 
originally a lecture, brevity has been studied through- 
out, or it might easily have attained a much larger 
size. 

Petworth has been long connected with the line 
of the Percies, distinguished in arms, and their 
noble and munificent descendants. Its Rectors have 
been eminent. Many whose good actions are their 
best memorials, sleep near it, their course completed 
and their labor done. May their example nerve us 
to combat indolence, selfishness, and vice. As the 
writer has always the most pleasant reminiscences of 
Petworth ; as those who have dwelt here and those 
who now inhabit it are dear to him, in conclusion 
he would express a sincere wish, — May Petworth 
prosper ; and in its social, moral, and religious con- 
dition may it continue to make progress. 



101 
APPENDIX. 

A. 
{Page 21) 
hotspur's sword. 
The formidable weapon, represented in the engraving, is in a 
state of good preservation. On the blade, immediately below the 
hilt, is incised the date 1392. The chair by which it is supported 
is also in Petworth House. It belonged to one of the Earls of 
Northumberland and is elaborately carved and gilded. It has on 
the back, a crescent (silvered), the badge of the Percies, surmount- 
ed by an Earl's coronet. 

B. 
(Page 25) 
hotspur's letters. 
Sir H. Nicolas, who seems not to to have been aware that the 
sword of this renowned warrior is still in the possession of his 
descendants, observes of these letters that "they derive great 
interest from being the only relics of Hotspur which are known to 
be preserved." The conclusion of one of them is here given in the 
original, as confirmatory of some of the statements made respect- 
ing him, and as a specimen of his ordinary correspondence. — 

"Voillez remembrer coment pluisors foitz jay poursue a vous 
pour payment dez soldeours du Koi en la ville de Berewyk et sur 
lestmarche Dengleterre les quellez sont en si graunt povertee quils 
ne purront porter nendurier defaute du payment. Et pour ceo 
vous supplie dordener qils purront estre paiez en manere come 
fuist taille entre le Tresorer et moy a notre darrein entre parlance 
si meinour payment ne purray avoir quar autrement moy covient 
venir devers vous pour le dit payment tontz antres chosez lessez 
Reverentz piers en Dieux et treshonorez seigneurs autres ne vous 
say escrier a present mez jeo prie le seint E spirit que vous mayn- 
teigne en tont honour et joy solonc votrez desires. Escrit a Car- 
narvon le iij e jour de Maij. (1401). 

HENE' PERCY 
Gardein de lestmarche Dengleterre vers Escoce. 



102 APPENDIX. 

C. 

THE DUDLEY EMBEOIDEEY. 

Among the many objects of interest in Pet worth House, is an 
exquisite piece of embroidery, notice of which has been omitted. 
It was designed to commemorate the union of the houses of Grey 
and Dudley by the marriage in 1553 of Lady Jane Gtrej with Lord 
Guilford Dudley, who were soon so tragically parted. It is intri- 
cately worked with flowers, having the Dudley crest in the centre, 
and shields around it, setting forth the armorial bearings of the 
two noble families, down to the time of the nuptials. It is said to 
have been wrought by the fair hands of Lady Jane Grey herself, 
and on examination appears to be a very beautiful example of the 
needlework of the period. 

D. 
{Page 32) 

TO TAKE HECTOE'S CLOAK, 

"When Thomas Piercy Earl of Northumberland, Anno 1569 
was routed in the rebellion which he raised against Queen Eliza- 
beth, he hid himself in the house of one Hector Armestrong of 
Harlaw (Northumberland), having confidence he would be true to 
him, who notwithstanding for money betrayed him to the Eegent 
of Scotland, It was observed that Hector, being before a rich man, 
fell poor of a sudden, and so hated generally that he never durst 
go abroad, insomuch that the proverb, To take Hector's Cloak, is 
continued to this day among them, when they would express a 
man that betrayeth his friend, who trusted in him." Fuller, 
Worthies, 303. 

E. 
(Page 34) 

HAEIOT. 

The papers of this eminent astronomer and explorer who is 
styled by Camden Mathematicus insignis, still remain at Petworth 
House. By permission of the late Earl of Egremont, they were 
examined by Professor Rigaud of Oxford, who has published from 
them in the Appendix to Bradley's Works (Oxford, 1832) the 



APPENDIX. 103 

valuable observations of Hariot on Halley's comet in 1607. The 
first discovery of the spots on the sun is contended for by Galileo, 
Scheiner and Hariot, and is a point still undetermined. This 
accurate astronomer observed them in England in December 1610, 
soon after his introduction to the 9th Earl of Northumberland 
who from his scientific pursuits was spoken of as "Henry the 
Wizard." "The Earl," says Wood, "finding him to be a gentleman 
of an affable and peaceable nature and well read in the obscure 
parts of learning allowed him a yearly pension of £120." Hughes, 
Warner and Hariot were called the Earls three Magi. Hariot' s 
earlier career was a remarkable one. Born and educated at Oxford, 
he became mathematical preceptor to Sir W. Kaleigh, who in 1585 
sent him over to Virginia on the first attempt to colonize that 
region. He has published an account of it under the title of 
"A brief and true "Report of the Newfoundland of Virginia" 
which is extant in Hakluyt's Voyages. He there gives an interest- 
ing narrative of his intercourse with the natives and their admira- 
tion of the mathematical instruments, glasses, clocks, guns and 
books used by the English. Speaking of a plant named Openawk, 
he describes it as "having the roots round, and hanging together as 
if fixed on ropes, and good for food, either boiled, or roasted" We 
now call this vegetable the potatoe. The colonists were reduced to 
great distress, and Hariot and his companions were carried back 
to England by Sir E. Drake. According to Camden these were the 
persons who introduced to this country another plant, at present 
extensively used. He says, "These men who were thus brought 
bach were the first, that Ilcnow of, that brought into England that 
Indian plant which they call Tabacca or Nicotia or Tobacco, It 
may however be mentioned that whether the Erench navigator, 
Jaques Cartier had introduced tobacco to Europe or not, he was 
acquainted with the mode of using it as early as 1535, for he writes 
thus of the Indians, "they put it into one of the ends of a comet or 
pipe and laying a cole of fire upon it, at the other ende sucJce so 
long that they fill their bodies full of smoJce, till that it commeth 
out of their mouth and nostrils, even as out of the Tonnell of a 
chimney" On his return Hariot indulged his love of scientific 



104 



APPENDIX. 



pursuits. His Artis Analytic® Praxis, printed after his death was 
dedicated to his patron the Earl of Northumberland. Dr. Zach, 
astronomer to the duke of Saxe Gotha, who searched the Petworth 
MSS. in 1784, has shewn that Descartes, without acknowledgement 
has, taken some of Harlot' s improvements in Algebra and stated 
them as his own. Hariot has been accused by Wood, on insufficient 
grounds, of a tendency to Deism ; but this has since been refuted. 
His own works shew that he was animated by a missionary spirit, 
truly practical, for he tells us, that to the people of Virginia wher- 
ever he came "he explained to them the contents of the Bible" and 
that in consequence the natives desired to be present at the public 
worship of the English, and to be prayed for by them in sickness." 
He died in London, 1621. Hakluyt. Cayley's Life of Ralegh 
JBiog. Brit. 

F. 
(Page 42) 

DEEE. 

The large and well conditioned herds of deer which roam 
through Petworth Park, add to its other attractive features. They 
average about 600. The deer at which the Lords of Petworth and 
the first Earls of Northumberland here drew bow were doubtless 
of the species, Cervus Mephus, — the Stag or Eed Deer ; such as 
those hunted in the north, when "to drive the deere with hound 
and home Erie Perci took his way." These which we now see, to 
the excellence of whose venison few will demur, and whose fawns 
fall to the rifle, belong to that of the Fallow Deer or Buck.— 
C. Dama. But one other kind of deer is indigenous to this island, 
the pretty little Roebuck, C. Capreolus, now rarely to be seen in 
England, and almost confined to the Scottish Highlands, probably 
few naturalists are aware that it still exists at Petworth. In the 
enclosure anciently called the Stag Park, adjoining the Home Park, 
there is a considerable number of these beautiful creatures. One 
requires a quick eye however to get a glance at them, they lurk 
among the brake and underwood and disappear instantaneously at 
the sight of a human being. 



APPENDIX. 105 

(Page 68) 

A LENTEN DISPENSATION. 

Memoranda That this first day of March Ano. Dm. 16 . . 
I Alexander Bownd, Doctor of Divinitie and Minister of ye Parish 
Church of Petworth in the Countie of Sussex, knowing that Mr. 
Thomas Payne ye elder of my pish, hath bynne, and nowe ys verye 
ill and sick, soe that there is litel hope of his recoverye, and that 
eating of ffish would shortenne his dayes, therefore I doe by these 
presents soe far as power ys gyven to me by any statute or Laws 
of England to ye sed Mr. Payne to eat fleashe this Lent, as uppon 
any ffish dayes out of Lent. In witnesse whereof I have hereunto 
sett mye hand. Dated ye day and year above sayd. MS. in Pet" 
worth Parish Chest, 

H. 
(Page 69) 

DISPUTATION IN PETWORTH CHUECH. 

Another instance of the violent proceedings at Petworth, in 
Puritan times, may be gathered from a controversy which was 
conducted in Petworth Church itself, between Dr. Cox, Precentor 
of Chichester and Fisher an Antipsedobaptist, as appears from an 
inscription to the memory of the former. Guil. Cox, S. T. P. 
Ecclesice Cathedralis Stx Trinitatis Cicestrensis Dignissimus 

Pro&centor Qui in arenam descendens contra Tfisherum Anti- 

pcedobaptistarum pugilem in JEclesia Parochiali de Petworth in 
hoc Com. Anno salutis MDCLIV > cert amine memories digno, 
strennus athleta ac gloriosus evasit victor. The above occurs on a 
brass, in Tillington Church. For a copy of which I am indebted 
to the kindness of the Eev. E. Eidsdale, Eector of Tillington and 
Prebendary of Chichester. In his "Sufferings of the Clergy" p. 27, 
"Walker mentions that Cox was barbarously used by his opponents 
and was imprisoned in Lord Petre's house at Alder sgate. Le Neve 
erroneously give 1631 as the date of his death. The statement on 
the brass is as follows. "Obiit circa XV Febru. Anno JZrce Chris- 
tian^MDCLVIW 






106 



APPENDIX. 



I. 

(Page 70) 
price's "mystery and method." 
"Mystery and Method of His Majesty's happy Restauration, 
laid open to public view by John Price, D. D. one of the late Duke 
of Albemarle's Chaplains, and privy to all the secret passages and 
particularities of that Glorious Eevolution. London, printed for 
James Vade at tie Cock and Sugar loaf, near St. Dunstan's 
Church in Fleet Street, 1680." I append some extracts from this 
curious work, by one of the Rectors of Petworth, which gives a 
vivid impression of the troubles of his time. As a personal narra- 
tive it is unusually interesting. Price was at Coldstream with 
Monk, whilst that general's army lay there, and he tells us that 
they were both suspected of Royalist tendencies. "Oliver Crom- 
well" he says "wrote to Monk not long before his death, and in the 
letter was this drolling expression, Tis said there is a cunning 
fellow in Scotland called George Monk, who lies in wait there to 
serve Charles Stuart, pray use your diligence to take him and send 
Mm up to me" p. 12. Monk's lady and Price endeavoured in vain 
to urge that prudent commander to precipitate measures. He once 
said to the latter "I can be undone by none but you and my wife" 
and after the defeat of Sir G. Booth's attempt, he observed that 
had he not been more circumspect, "they would, home brought Ms 
head to the block." When the General's and her own work, and the 
day's work were done" he tells us "Mrs. Monk used to come into the 
Dining room with her treason gown on (as I called it) telling him 
that when she had that gown on he should allow her liberty to say 
anything... Sometimes the general would make hard faces on hearing 
her and oft address himself to me, as if I were to moderate at the act, 
to whom I oft returned, Sir, she speaks such unhappy truths that 
you nor I cannot gainsay them. I cannot forget his usual answer, 
True Mr. Price (he would say) but I have learned the Proverb that 
he who follows Truth too close upon the heels, will one time or other 
have his brains kicked out, p. 14. The following is an instance of 
the intentions of some of the Puritans, and of the stand which 
Monk made against fanaticism. On the occasion of a thanksgiving 



APPENDIX. 107 

for Lambert's victory over Booth, "a very intricate question of con- 
science ivasput before Dinner, whether he could be a godly man who 
grayed the same grayer twice. Some were for the negative; but others 
said they durst not be so peremptory, at dinner the madness continued 
and the joy increased insomuch that in their jollity they (the officersj 
fell to scoffing at the name of priest, nay and even the Presbyterian 
would no longer d,own with him for a Gospel Minister. At last one 
Captain Poole of Collonel Fairfax's Regiment spake (his mouth being 
open) that there could never be a quiet and lasting settlement in 
these nations so long as there was a parish priest or a Steeple House 
left, upon which extravagancy of thanksgiving recreations, the general 
in an unexpected indignation rose from his chair and spoke to the 
amazement of all. Fair and softly (says he) Captain Poole, if you 
and your party once come to pluck there I will pluck uith you. 
Whereupon there was a sudden damp ; they were but soldiers before 
their general, and were silent, and thus concluded the mirth and the 
thanksgiving dinner, p. 28. "At Coldstream our first entertain- 
ment was suitable to the name (he tells us); no sutlers being yet come 
to us and no shambles to be liad...on our return we found butchers 
and sutlers; but the sutlers (useful men) had got a small barn to 
themselves, another there was (but not at all so good) that served 
indifferently for a cowstalk and a chappell. p. 67. Dr. Price's book 
is the more valuable as it appears to be a kind of diary. When 
Monk entered England, Price was with him at St. Albans where 
he witnessed some of the extravagancies of the Puritan preachers 
of which he thus speaks, "Here we spent one day extraordinary at 
the church, the famous Hugh Peters, Mr. Lee of Hatfield and another 
carrying on the work of the day, which was a fast, Peters superero- 
gated. As for Ms Sermon he managed with some dexterity at first 
(allowing the cantings of Ms expressions). His text was Ps. 107, v. 7. 
"He led them forth by the right way 8fc" With his fingers on the 
cushion he measured the right way from the Bed Sea, through the 
wilderness to Canaan, told us it was not 40 days march, but God 
led Israel 40 years through the wilderness before they came hither, 
yet this was still the Lord's right way who led Ms people crinkledom 
cum crankledom % „(Qj. \>j a circuitous route). Thus my little re- 



108 APPENDIX. 

marques of him and the Fast were at an end, p. 86. At this time 
Price observes "The Ministers of the Church of England were gener- 
ally contented with the exercise of their Religion in private houses ; 
though even there also they were disturbed by soldiers or constables 
ivho used to hale them from their very communion tables, upon the 
more solemn festivals of their despised Church, rending their sur- 
plices, where any toere used and tearing their Mass books (for 
that was the name by which the crafty statesmen and the more 
jugling Gospeller taught the indiscerning multitude to call the 
English Liturgy) into pieces, p. 118. In the dedication, which is 
to the Earl of Bath, Dr. Price narrates his interview with Charles 
II. on his return, and adds " The King after he had vouchsafed me 
the honor to Jciss his hand was pleased to tell me that he well un- 
derstood the service I had done him, and commanded me to make 
application to him as oft as I desired his favor" This book was 
published after Price had been sometime Rector of Petworth, and 
would appear to have been written and revised here. 

K. 

EXTEACTS EEOM PETWOETH CHTTECHWAEDEN'S ACCOUNTS. 

1592. Layde out. 

for a Booke of Articles iiiji. 

for a communion table vs. \id. 

for a bell rope iis. ivd. 

1593. for our charges and ye Sydesmen's at ye visitation iiis. yd, 
to James Baker for stooles for ye communion table iiijc?. 
for sope for washing ye surplus id. 

1594. for mending ye claper of ye great bell iid. 

paide to ye Constable for relief of souldyers ... iiijs. iiijc?. 

1595. for halfe a hyde of whit lether to make hanging 

for ye bell clappers 3s. 4& 

for oyle for ye clocke id. 

toward ye reliefe of maymed souldiers 8s. 8d. 

to Mr. Wilson for wryting ye bill of Christenings 

and Burials xiid. 

for washing ye surplus and sope 



i«« 



APPENDIX. 109 

1596. layd out at Midhurst for ye charge and ye visita-* 

tion and ye sydesmen 3*. 2d. 

Item for mending ye graves in ye churche 3*. 

Item for mending ye steeple windowe and for 

timber ...... 4s. 10d. 

Item for boordes for ye same iiis. 

Item for nayles 8d. 

In 1650 the following entry occurs which shews that the 
Church plate was then in the keeping of the Puritans ; this they 
probably never restored, since, in 1666, Dr. King gave to the par^ 
ish "a Tankard, a plate for Offertory and plate for ye Bread" 

"Delivered to ye next Churchwardens by Aaron Smith in 
Church with all ye books plat and ornaments belonging to ye 
Church. A pulpet cloth of velvat. A wroth (wrought?) coshen 
and a carpet of velvat and (diaper) comounion cloth. On Puter 
bason. On present pot of puter. In Mr. George Barnard's hands 
on silver coup and cover, In Kichard Barton's hands a silver coup 
and a silver ewer given by Mr. Mosse, in his hand also to puter 
flagins. In Henry Sandom's hand a silver cover of a coup and 
gilded. A Church Bible (no Prayer BooJc mentioned, we observe) 
and to register books. Fuells (?) works and a deske to lay them 
on. 6 lethern bockets. Toe laders on of them new. Toe Bears 
(sic) to cary y e dead. A Dish of puter for bread. To chests on of 
of them wth 3 loks. To dishes to colect mony. To iron hooks and 
a wheelbarrow." To this is added in Cheynell's handwriting. 

Aprill 19. 1652. this account was presented 

Sum To tall of Keceipts 173£ vijs. 3d. 

Sum of Disbursment s . 145£ 10s. vid. 

Bemanent in ye hands of the overseers Jeffry ) * « .. „ , -. , 

Goodyer and John Neale § 27h 16s ' lld ' 

This acoount is not yet approved by ye parish. 



110 APPENDIX. 



OBJECTS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTEREST IN THE VlCINIT? 
OF PETWORTH. 

Most of the undermentioned parishes are adjacent, 

"BARLAYINGKTOiN*. The small church consists of a nave and 
chancel* It has a rude hagioscope, and some slight traces of 
mural ornamentation. 

BIG-NOR. The remains of the Roman "Villa at Bignor, sup- 
posed to be of the age of Titus, are not more than 6 miles distant 
from Petworth. As they afford one of the most perfect specimens 
of Roman art and splendour yet found in England, and are in a 
state of good preservation, they have been much visited, and are 
still shewn by the family of the discoverer, who in 1811 struck up 
fragments of mosaic pavement while ploughing. The villa was 
built at the station Ad decimum, the 10th milestone from Regnum 
(Chichester) and was of unusual dimensions. The buildings have 
been traced to an extent of about 600 ft. in length to about 350 ft. 
in breadth. The household apartments stood round an inner 
court, which was nearly a rectangular parallelogram. There are 
three pirncipal rooms. The largest was probably the triclinium or 
great banqueting hall. The tesserae of which the pavements are 
composed are dark brown, red, yellow, white, ash color, blue and 
black. In the smaller of the two circular compartments are 
represented Ganymede and the eagle, well executed. The larger 
has six hexagonal divisions, in which are figures (not entire) of 
dancing nymphs ; in the centre is a cistern of stone. The second 
pavement west of this, displays a remarkable head, which has by 
the side of it a leafless branch and is supposed to represent Winter; 
one of the four seasons, figured at the corners. The third pave- 
ment is even more interesting. It exhibits combats of Cupids or 
genii habited as gladiators. Betiarii with net, trident, and short 



APPENDIX. Ill 

sword. Secutores with shield, greave for the left leg, and crested 
helmet, and Rudiarii or veterans, holding a rod and regulating the 
combat. Four different scenes are represented. In one the gladia- 
tors are preparing for the fight. In another they are engaged in it. 
In the third the retiarius is wounded as appears by the bloody 
sword of his antagonist, and the rudiarius is coming to his aid. In 
the last he has fallen and is disarmed. The north end of this pave- 
ment has a female head ornamented with a chaplet of flowers, and 
surrounded by a nimbus of light blue color. There are also remains 
of a bath, a hypocaust, and a cryptoporticus which surrounded the 
whole court, in the west part of which appears a head of Medusa. 

The pavement discovered at Avenches in Switzerland, in 1708, 
very closely resembles this at Bignor. At Bignor Park is preserved 
a gold ring found near the villa. It is of exquisite workmanship, 
chased and set with an intaglio, representing a warrior holding a 
buckler before him. 

The old house called Bignor Park was built in 1632. Charlotte 
Smith, the novelist and poetess resided here, the present mansion 
was erected by J. Hawkins, Esq., in 1828. The park itself was 
enclosed from the great forest of Arundel, temp. Henry III. for the 
purpose of fattening deer, to supply venison for salting for the 
winter. The Kev. E. Turner has given an interesting account of a 
poaching affray here in 1524 in which the Prior of Hardham was 
concerned. S. A. C. XI. 112. The long lancets of the Chancel of 
Bignor Church should be noticed. 

BURTON. The diminutive church, one of the smallest in 
England, was partly rebuilt by an injunction of the Archbishop of 
Canterbury in 1626. It contains several altar tombs, inlaid with 
brasses, to the memory of members of the knightly family of Groring. 
Burton House, their ancient residence, was in the best Elizabethan 
style. It was twice partly burned down and has been superseded 
by a new building in which a portion of the old mansion is pre- 
served. The fine park, magnificent ponds and pretty cascade 
render Burton well worth a visit. 



112 APPENDIX. 

DUNCTON. In 1815 the remains of a hypocaust were dis* 
covered here 140 yards, north east from the Church (an engraving 
of it is given hy Dallaway, II. 279.) It appears to have belonged 
to a Roman military bath, such as were placed near great roads for 
the use of soldiers on the march. The building stood exactly north 
and south. On the south was a room paved with tiles in which 
the flue was heated. Fragments of painted stuoco ocourred. Since 
the discovery nothing has been preserved. 

The benefice, anciently one of the chapels of ease of Petworth, 
is now rectorial. John Rayfolde (1552) wills u my body Sfc. before 
the image of our Lady in the body of the Church of Dtmcton" 

FITTLEWORTH. The church consists of a chancel, nave 
and north aisle. Portions of it are Early English and Decorated. 
The most ancient building in this parish is a farm house called Lee 
or Leigh of the the XVth century. 

KIRDFORD. The church chiefly Early English has a lofty 
tower. The chapel of Plaistow in this parish, was probably erected 
for the convenience of the Archbishop of Canterbury's tenant at 
Plaistow Place, now a farm house, containing some vestiges of the 
ancient mansion, particularly a ceiling. Shillinglee was one of the 
parks belonging to the Earls of Arundel, The house was built early 
in the last century ; large additions were made to it by the first 
Earl Winterton. It is surrounded by beautiful forest scenery. 

LTJRGrASHALL. The church has a nave, and modern chan- 
cel. On the south side of the nave is an open cloister of timber frame, 
furnished with benches for the accomodation of distant parishioners 
who brought their refection with them. On the south is also a 
large tower with a timber spire. The family of Yaldwyn have long 
possessed property here. In a sequestered spot under the shelter 
of Blackdown, which rises to an elevation of 800ft. nestles Black- 
down House (locally in Lods worth parish.) It has on it the date 
1640. William Yaldwyn was appointed commissioner of the forfeit- 
ed estates in Sussex by Oliver Cromwell, the letters patent to this 
effect commence thus. "Oliver Lord Protector of the Commonwealth 
of England fyc. To all persons to whom these presents shall come 



APPENDIX. 113 

greeting, whereas we have committed to William Yaldwyn the 
younger our county of Sussex Sfc" 

NORTH CHAPEL, — was formerly a constituent part of 
Petworth parish. Henry Barkeley of Petworth 1546, made this 
bequest — Item, I will to the chappel of St. John called North' 
chappel fyc." The church has been much enlarged and improved. 

STOPHAM. The residence of one of the most ancient families 
in Sussex. The family of Bartelott is said to have come over with 
William the Conqueror and settled at a place called La Ford in 
this parish, Stopham House, formerly Elizabethan, was rebuilt in 
1787. The church contains relics of colored glass removed from the 
old mansion. The pavement is almost entirely composed of marble 
slabs inlaid with brasses and memorials to the Bartelotts, forming a 
complete series, Stopham Bridge, of seven arches, was erected in 
1309. (2 Edward II.) 

SUTTON. The church consists of a nave and chancel, north 
transept and south aisle, with a south porch. Hussey speaks of 
the arches between the nave and aisle as Tr. Norman or Early 
English. It has a fine western tower. The chancel, which is good 
Decorated, is now in process of restoration. The beautiful east 
window is rich Decorated, there are in it two escutcheons of arms. 
I. Perci and Louvaine quarterly. II. A lion rampant, De Albini. 
A small quantity of fine colored glass remains in the chancel 
windows, St. Luke is typified by a winged bull. Fragments of 
Boman pottery have occured in this parish, which adjoins that 
of Bignor. 

TILLINGTON. The church has portions in the Decorated 
style. It consists of a chancel, and a nave and south aisle separ- 
ated by a low arcade, the pillars of which have capitals of the 
XlVth century. The light and lofty tower, finished with flying 
arches, crossed in the centre, was constructed in 1807, at the sole 
expence of the Earl of Egremont. John Young, Bishop of Calio- 
polis, once performed mass in Tillington church, in pontificalibus, 
having a mitre and staff, and was on this account afterwards 



114 APPENDIX. 

obliged to make concession to Robert Sherburne, Bishop of Chi- 
chester. That there was also, anciently, a place of worship in 
this parish, in the manor of River, scarcely admits of doubt, as a 
stone coffin was dug up, in the premises at River farm, and fields 
there are still named, — the Chapel Field, the Lady Field, the Soul 
Field and Chantry Field. Pitts' Hill, the seat of W. T. Mitford, 
Esq., descended from the Mitford' s of Mitford Castle, Northum- 
berland, the present M. P. for Midhurst, was erected in 1794 on a 
site originally selected for its singular beauty. 

WOOLAYING-TON. John Ball of Woolavington, 28th July, 
1519, wills thus Ho the high altar of St. Peter, Woolavington, 
12d." The old church has been beautifully restored. A new church 
was also erected at Westlavington (1850), this is dedicated to 
"St. Mary Magdalene" Lavington Park was formerly one of the 
ten annexed to Arundel Castle. Lavington House, originally 
Elizabethan, has been superseded by a mansion erected by J. 
Sargent, Esq., the friend of Hayley, and author of several poems, — 
The Mine, Mary Queen of Scots, &c. It is now the country seat 
of the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Oxford ; the Lavington 
Estate having passed to that eloquent and popular prelate. From 
the observatory erected by his Lordship, on the summit of the 
hill above, some of the most extensive and magnificent prospects 
in the county may be obtained. 



PBItfTED AND PUBLISHED BY A. J, BEXANT, PETWOBTH, 



ERRATA. 

Page 12, Line 20, after himself dele the comma. 

In the second note for Huntington read Huntingdon. 
19, Last line but two, after that dele the. 
49, Line 5 of note, for manmocks read mammocks. 
51, Line 2 } for immediatly read immediately. 
80, Line 4 of note, for Claudia read Claudius. 
84, Line 6, for amounts read amount. 
94, Line 11, for interrorem read in terrorem. 



MAY 7 1902 



